The Government has issued an apology to the family of Pc Andrew Harper after two of his killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, remained eligible for early release under new sentencing reforms.
Apology from Justice Secretary
Justice Secretary Alex Norris acknowledged that the decision had "created harm" but said the alternative was seeing prisons cease to function.
Around 5,000 prisoners are expected to be freed early under the reforms, reduced from 6,000 after ministers excluded rapists and child sex offenders from the scheme designed to address severe overcrowding in jails.
Killers' eligibility
Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and sentenced to 13 years. They are now eligible for release at the halfway point of their sentences. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not have qualified for the scheme.
Pc Harper, 28, suffered fatal injuries in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. He was dragged along a country lane after becoming entangled in a strap attached to the rear of a car as three teenagers fled the scene.
Family's reaction
His wife, Lissie Harper, branded the prospect of early release "an affront to justice" and "an utter betrayal". His mother, Debbie Adlam, said the family was "bitterly disappointed", telling the BBC: "Andrew deserves better than this, and so do we."
Mr Norris said he understood the family's "anger" and apologised, but maintained the scheme was essential to prevent the prison system from collapsing. He told Sky News: "Were we not to make these changes, then we would run out of prison places in this October or November. I know that's difficult. I know that's created harm, and it's not Lissie Harper's fault, and I'm sorry that she's been put into this situation as a result, I genuinely am. But this is a decision we've had to take to make sure we have a functioning prison system."
Policy details
Ministers confirmed on Monday that rapists and serious child sex offenders would be excluded from the scheme, following a review commissioned by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Mr Burnham said he wished to "go further" but it was "not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing".
The releases, originally scheduled for September, have been delayed until October to give the probation service more time to prepare. Those freed will be subject to stricter conditions, including electronic monitoring, random drug testing, and potential bans from driving, pubs, and events such as football matches.
The changes formed part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year, which reduced the minimum time many offenders must serve. Labour argued the measures were partly necessary because the Conservatives had left the prison system "at breaking point".
Mr Norris said the policy would mean the Government would not need to repeat earlier early release schemes. The Government has pledged to build 14,000 new prison places by 2031, with 3,000 already delivered over the past two years.
Political reaction
The Conservatives insisted victims "deserve better". Kemi Badenoch said her party would build additional prison places, rent cells abroad, and deport foreign offenders. She told broadcasters: "We do need to solve the problem of prison overcrowding. We said we were going to build prisons in the Conservative manifesto, Covid derailed that programme. We still need to build prisons. We need to remove foreign criminals, and we should do what Conservatives had planned to do two years ago, which Labour stopped, which is rent prison spaces from other countries. Sweden does it. The UK can do it too." When pressed on cost, she replied: "You cannot put a price on keeping the citizens of this country feeling safe and secure."
Nigel Farage claimed Mr Burnham "tells people what he thinks they want to hear" but "will not actually deliver". "Andy Burnham said it would be awful if Pc Harper's killers were released early. But he's now letting it happen," the Reform UK leader said. "Both Labour and the Conservatives have failed us all."
The Liberal Democrats called on the Prime Minister to "step up" and prevent the early release. Justice spokeswoman Jess Brown-Fuller said: "It is an insult to the family and loved ones of Andrew Harper that his killers are still eligible for early release after committing such a heinous crime. Ministers repeatedly assured Parliament that the most serious offenders would be exempt from these measures and it is clear that is simply not the case."
The Prison Governors' Association (PGA) also criticised the last-minute change, warning it had placed "huge pressure" on staff, making mistakes "more likely". PGA president Tom Wheatley said: "Government needs to decide on a direction and stick to it, changing course at a late stage causes scarce resources to be used unnecessarily and puts prison and probation staff under extreme pressure."
