The widow of murdered police officer PC Andrew Harper has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of an "utter betrayal" after it emerged that two of the men responsible for her husband's death remain eligible for early release under the Government's revised prison release scheme.
Lissie Harper spoke out after ministers confirmed that offenders convicted of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming crimes will be excluded from the policy, while the first wave of early releases has been pushed back by a month until October.
PM's statement and new measures
In a statement, the Prime Minister acknowledged he had wanted to go further but said wider exemptions were not possible without risking the prison system becoming overwhelmed, which he warned would put public safety at greater risk.
The Government also announced tougher supervision measures for offenders released into the community, including new GPS monitoring for rapists and additional restrictions on their movements.
Despite those changes, Mrs Harper said it was "disgusting" that two of the men convicted over her husband's death could still qualify for early release.
PC Harper's death
PC Harper was killed in the line of duty in August 2019 after responding to the theft of a quad bike in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
As Albert Bowers, Jessie Cole and Henry Long attempted to flee, the officer's ankles became caught in a towrope attached to their vehicle, dragging him for around a mile along a country road and causing fatal injuries.
Long received a 16-year prison sentence and is not eligible for early release. However, Bowers and Cole were each jailed for 13 years for manslaughter and will be eligible for release under the scheme after serving half of their sentences.
Widow's fury
In a statement published by Sky News, Mrs Harper said: "This is disgusting. I am beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear that Andrew's killers are soon to be free to roam the streets.
"What abhorrent message does this send? How dare ministers say the killing of a police officer is not enough of a 'sickening crime' that deserves the stiffest of punishments."
She added that Bowers and Cole had "robbed us of our future" and "should remain in jail". "The government and the justice system have not just let me down... they have added insult to injury. They are meant to be on our side," Harper continued.
"This is an utter betrayal - and it's one I will not be able to forgive or forget."
Burnham's response
Responding to criticism of the policy, Mr Burnham said public safety remained his "top priority" and acknowledged the "anger, anxiety and distress that's been caused" by the proposals.
"Offenders who have been sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be excluded from the changes," Burnham said.
"I want to be honest - I wanted to go even further as I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened.
"But it's not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk.
"That's why we will also be introducing much tougher community measures. There will be a presumption that all offenders are tagged, longer periods of supervision and tough new rules, including restriction zones for offenders."
Revised scheme details
Under changes to the Sentencing Act passed by Sir Keir Starmer's government, around 6,000 offenders had been due to leave prison in September after serving one-third of their sentence instead of half. Prisoners serving sentences of four years or more were also set to become eligible for release after serving half of their term rather than two-thirds, reports Sky.
However, after entering Downing Street, Mr Burnham paused the scheme and ordered an urgent review.
Following that review, ministers confirmed that rapists and child sex offenders would now join the list of around 18,000 offenders already excluded from early release, including those judged by the courts to be the most dangerous and prisoners serving life sentences.
Alongside the revised plans, the Government unveiled a £10 million package to improve support for victims, including enhanced trauma-informed services and a new national helpline to provide information and assistance to those affected.
The Prime Minister also blamed previous Conservative governments for failing to expand prison capacity, noting that adult male prisons are now operating at 98% capacity.
He pledged to deliver "the fastest prison-building programme since the Victorian era" to tackle overcrowding.
Mr Burnham has also instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to examine ways of speeding up the removal of foreign offenders, review outdated Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences and identify additional capacity within the women's prison estate.
Concerns remain, however, that domestic abusers will still qualify for early release.
Reactions
Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs warned the policy was "wrong and puts victims' lives at risk".
She said: "It is critical that no abuser is released in October unless I am confident that victims' safety is not being compromised."
The Conservatives also criticised the revised plans.
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said: "Labour whipped their MPs to vote to let rapists, paedophiles, and grooming gang perpetrators out of prison early.
"Now they admit the Conservative campaign to stop this was right - this is a victory for victims.
"But their U-turn doesn't go far enough. Some child sex offenders and killers, like those responsible for the death of PC Harper, will still be released early. And the trauma of victims being told their abusers may be released can't be undone.
"One of Andy Burnham's first acts as prime minister will be to let thousands of criminals - including killers and paedophiles - out early."
Reform UK's shadow home secretary Zia Yusuf also condemned the policy.
He said: "This announcement will still result in dangerous and violent offenders being let loose on our streets, and it fails to bring justice to the family of PC Andrew Harper, whose killers remain on track for early release under this disgusting policy."
