Sharon Pearson says repeated recalls for licence breaches, where there is no new offence, should be checked by someone independent.
A Rochester woman has started a Parliament petition calling for an independent review before anyone is repeatedly recalled to prison for breaching their licence conditions.
Sharon Pearson’s petition, “Reform prisoner recalls and require independent review of repeated recalls”, opened on the UK Parliament petitions website on 2 October 2026. It had 135 signatures on 9 October.
People released from prison on licence can be recalled to custody if they breach their licence conditions. The petition says repeated recalls need stronger safeguards, “particularly where there is no new offence”.
Why she started it
Ms Pearson told Kent Local News the petition comes from her family’s experience. She asked that no one else be identified.
“I’ve watched someone close to me be recalled repeatedly for licence breaches where there was no new offence, and there was nobody to check if it was even necessary,” she said. “It tears families apart and causes huge stress, and I know many other families going through the exact same thing.”
What she is calling for
She wants a mandatory review after a second or third recall, carried out by someone “completely independent, not the probation service or the prison”.
“They should ask: Is this recall actually necessary? Would community support work better? Is it proportionate? Right now, nobody asks those questions,” she said.
Public protection
Ms Pearson said she was not arguing against recall where someone poses a risk.
“Public safety is so important and I am not saying nobody should ever be recalled. If someone genuinely poses a risk, of course they should be recalled,” she said. “An independent review would actually make the system better. It would ensure that when someone is recalled, everyone can be confident it’s for the right reasons.”
The petition itself says: “We are not asking for public protection to be weakened.”
What happens next
Ms Pearson says she has contacted Lauren Edwards, the MP for Rochester and Strood, who replied asking for more details.
Under Parliament’s petition rules, the government responds to petitions that reach 10,000 signatures, and petitions that reach 100,000 are considered for a debate.
“I want to see independent reviews written into the rules so no one is sent back to prison without anyone asking if it’s actually needed,” she said.
Sources
- UK Parliament petition 781218: Reform prisoner recalls and require independent review of repeated recalls
- Sharon Pearson, written answers to Kent Local News, 8 October 2026