David Baines MP with Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Image: David Baines)The exclusions build on existing protections already in place covering around 18,000 offenders, including those serving life sentences and offenders judged by the courts to be among the most dangerous. Mr Baines acknowledged concerns about wider changes to sentencing but said ministers were dealing with a prison system under significant strain. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Keeping the public safe is my top priority. He added: "It's not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk." Ministers say the measures will form part of a wider programme aimed at increasing prison capacity, including plans to deliver 14,000 new prison places by 2031.