Angela Rayner has confirmed that the killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early, with the government set to outline its plans in September.
Government solution identified
The Housing Secretary told LBC that a solution had been found to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers behind bars, and that the Justice Secretary would present the plans to Parliament when it returns from its summer break.
Rayner said: 'The Prime Minister is really clear, the Justice Secretary will come to Parliament in September to lay out our plans on how we keep the most serious criminals in jail.'
When presenter Nick Ferrari asked if this would include killers of police officers, Rayner replied: 'Yes.'
Background to the controversy
Earlier in the summer, it emerged that Cole and Bowers would be eligible for early release under a scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding. Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to find a way to keep them locked up, but his initial exemption for rapists and child sex offenders did not cover them.
The Ministry of Justice was reportedly exploring ways to exclude Cole and Bowers without either widening the exemption to all manslaughter convicts or creating a loophole that could be challenged legally.
Housing minister Sally Jameson had earlier told broadcasters she was 'sure the justice secretary will find a way to make sure that PC Harper's killers are not released early', adding that 'a solution's been identified'.
Details of the case
PC Harper was fatally injured in 2019 after being caught in a strap attached to a car while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. He was dragged along a country road in a vehicle driven by Henry Long, with Cole and Bowers as passengers. All three were convicted of manslaughter, but Long is not eligible for early release.
