PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain in prison thanks to changes to Labour's early release scheme, Andy Burnham has said. The Prime Minister confirmed that anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including manslaughter, would not be granted an early release.
Change follows public pressure
The move follows pressure from PC Harper's family, former colleagues and the public to stop his killers walking free. Mr Burnham said the change would see 'hundreds' more inmates stay in prison.
He told BBC Breakfast space would be created by deporting foreign criminals and granting release to some offenders serving indefinite terms. Those convicted of indecent assault and death by dangerous driving would also be excluded from the scheme, he said.
Prime Minister's statement
The PM explained: 'I've applied common sense here. I was faced with a situation where people on those sentences who have more than served their time not being released, whereas others who've committed serious crimes being released early.'
He added: 'It is correcting an injustice that's been there in the system. Not all, but many were very young when they were sentenced, sentenced for offences in some cases that are not at the same level of seriousness as some of those who were previously going to be scheduled for early release.'
Background of the case
PC Harper was killed after being dragged down a road while responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire in 2019. Two of the 28-year-old officer's killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, would have been eligible for early release after serving half of their 13-year terms for manslaughter given in 2020.
Henry Long, the driver of the trio's getaway car, was given a 16-year extended sentence and therefore didn't qualify for the scheme. PC Harper's widow, Lissie, described the prospect of two of his killers being allowed to walk free as 'deplorable'.
Prison capacity measures
With the prison population currently at 97.6 per cent capacity in England and Wales, the PM hopes to make space by bringing an end to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) offences. These were sentences handed out between 2005 and 2012, for which the offenders had to serve a minimum term and then required parole board approval before being allowed free.
Statistics show that of the 2,271 people serving IPP sentences, 856 have never been released because they have been deemed to pose a significant risk of serious harm to the public. Mr Burnham said he would legislate to end these sentences by the end of this parliament, with a 'cross-party oversight group' established to monitor individuals who may pose a threat to communities.
Hundreds of foreign prisoners are also expected to be deported in the coming months, however not of the capacity gaining measures are expected to have made a significant impact before the first tranche of inmates is due to be released in October. Justice Secretary Alex Norris is expected to give an exact figure of how many prisoners will be denied early release in a statement to the Commons on Tuesday.
