Skip to content

PM responds as killer's accomplice set to be freed

BBC Sir Keir Starmer wearing black rimmed glasses at a conference in Liverpool, with a blue background BBC
Sir Keir Starmer said he does not want to see any prisoner released early

The prime minister has insisted he was "forced" to release prisoners early after being asked about a killer's accomplice who will walk free after serving just three years of his nine-year sentence.

Sir Keir Starmer was questioned about the early release of Thomas Waring, who helped hide a gun after the 2022 murder of 26-year-old Elle Edwards in Wirral.

Innocent bystander Ms Edwards was struck by two stray bullets when she was caught in the crossfire of a gangland feud outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village.

Asked about the case on BBC Radio Merseyside during a series of appearances on local radio stations, Sir Keir said that while he was against releasing prisoners early he had been "forced to do so".

In response, Ms Edwards' father Tim Edwards said while he understood the need to release some prisoners because of overcrowding, the nature of Waring's crime should have made him ineligible for early release.

Mr Edwards said: "Even though he's been done for assisting an offence, he assisted in a murder.

"The co-accused of Elle's killer is basically in the same bracket as a shoplifter."

Mr Edwards was informed by letter that Waring, who was convicted of assisting an offender and possession of a firearm in July 2023, would be released early due to "significant issues with the prison population".

The Ministry of Justice explained that Waring's release had been brought forward a year from September 2027 to the week of 11 October 2026.

Mr Edwards said Sir Kier had personally responded to a letter he'd written to him about his concerns, but said [Sir Kier] had "passed him on to the Lord Chancellor".

He said he would now write to the Lord Chancellor to ask for a meeting to "discuss the way forward".

"It's not acceptable, I don't accept it and it and I'm not going to allow it," he added.

PA Media Tim Edwards outside Liverpool Crown Court PA Media
Tim Edwards said the government's early release scheme as a "mockery" of justice

Sir Keir said: "I don't want to release any of these people.

"But we have been forced to do so because our prisons are absolutely full, because the last government sent people to prison and didn't build enough prison places."

He said following the summer riots which broke out after the killing of three girls in Southport, the system nearly reached breaking point.

"We nearly reached a point where we couldn't arrest people because the prisons were too full because the last government broke the system," he added.

PA Media Elle Edwards, with blonde hair, smiles at the camera in a carPA Media
Elle Edwards was killed in a shooting outside a pub

"So I don't want to release these prisoners, I am absolutely clear about that.

"But, equally, we cannot have the situation which we were faced with, where the police were saying to me if we don't get some of the people out of prisons, we are not going to be able to arrest people who need to be arrested.

"That will be a complete breakdown in law and order."

He added that a "bad inheritance" from the previous government had left him "very frustrated".

"It's another mess that we are clearing up," he said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]

Related stories