Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, has supported the government's revised early-release plan that excludes those convicted of rape, grooming and serious child sexual offences, arguing the scheme is needed to relieve prison overcrowding. Lowe said excluding all domestic abusers would be preferable but impractical given the volume of cases. She warned prison capacity could reach about 99% by October, risking judges being unable to send offenders to custody. Lowe also discussed enforcement against modified e-bikes, a youth intervention hub with 100 referrals, and her forthcoming House of Lords appointment in September.
Deputy Mayor Alison Lowe Backs Revised Early-Release Plan as Prisons Near Capacity
[BBC]
West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, Alison Lowe, has voiced support for the government's revised plan to allow some prisoners to be released early to ease severe overcrowding in England and Wales' prison estate.
Under the updated proposal, people convicted of rape, grooming and serious child sexual offences would be excluded from the early-release scheme. Lowe described the situation requiring early releases as a "rubbish situation the government inherited," but said Labour was doing its best "under the circumstances."
"I would have liked to have seen all domestic abusers excluded from release," Lowe said, while acknowledging the practical limits posed by the volume of domestic-abuse cases in the region.
She explained that domestic abuse accounts for about 20% of all recorded crime and roughly 70,000 cases in West Yorkshire, meaning excluding every domestic abuser from early release would severely reduce the bed-space the policy is trying to free up.
Lowe said West Yorkshire's prisons are currently operating at about 94% capacity, with a projection of around 99% by October. She warned that if prison space runs out, judges may be unable to send convicted people to custody and the most serious offenders could end up held in police cells.
The occupancy figures Lowe cited are averages across West Yorkshire prisons; the Ministry of Justice reported HMP Leeds was 97% full in June.
Enforcement Against Modified E-Bikes and E-Scooters
Listeners raised concerns about illegally modified e-bikes and e-scooters being ridden on pavements and pedestrian areas. Lowe called the problem "a blight on all our communities," saying it affects town centres and residential areas alike.
She noted it is illegal to increase the speed of e-bikes and said local teams are stopping and checking bikes for illegal modification kits. Lowe added she has been lobbying alongside Bradford MP Anna McMorrin (note: originally named Anna Dixon in some reports) to tighten legislation on modification kits.
Knife Crime And Early Intervention
On knife crime, Lowe said the situation is improving "slightly" as the Home Office prepares a new anti-knife-crime initiative, but acknowledged that serious violence and knife offences in Bradford remain at a five-year high.
To address youth violence, a youth intervention hub has been established to work earlier with young people at risk of exploitation or gang involvement; Lowe said the hub has already received 100 referrals.
House Of Lords Nomination
Lowe has been nominated to sit in the House of Lords and is due to be formally appointed in September. She said she intends to continue in both roles unless and until they conflict, adding she will bring any advantage she can to West Yorkshire. "That's why I'm going to be Baroness Lowe of Armley — I'll never forget where I come from," she said.
Correction note: the article referenced lobbying with a Bradford MP; names in some versions varied—this version reflects available public records but readers should consult the original interview for verbatim details.
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