This number has since been reduced after ministers excluded roughly 1,000 grooming gang members, rapists and “serious” child sex offenders from early release. Critics have questioned the scope of the exemptions after reports that some men convicted in relation to historical grooming gang cases could be among those freed. He believes that serious offenders should never have even been considered for early release from prison and considers the whole situation "outrageous". “That is why we have toughened sentences for these predators, and taken action to block grooming and serious child sex offences from any sentencing changes. The Government adds that it has blocked offences such as child rape and meeting a child after grooming, along other serious sex offences from changes to sentencing.