Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been accused of giving PC Andrew Harper's family false hope by pausing the early release of his killers, only to allow them to be freed after a week-long 'review'. Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, part of the trio that killed PC Harper by dragging him along a country road, have been released after serving just six-and-a-half years of their 13-year sentence.
False Hope and a 'Review'
Burnham paused the release of the killers last week, prompting the family to believe they might remain behind bars. However, a week later, the decision was made to proceed with their release, leading to accusations that the intervention was purely for show.
Carole Malone, writing in the Express, condemned the move, stating: "I have pushed to the very limits of what it is possible to do," said Burnham, but Malone retorted: "No, you haven't matey. You can't 'push the limits' in just a week."
Justice or Political Maneuvering?
The early release scheme has been criticized as an affront to justice, with Malone arguing that taking a life deserves life in prison. She suggested alternatives such as building 'Nightingale-style' prisons, similar to the NHS Nightingale Hospitals that were constructed in days, to house low-risk offenders and free up space for serious criminals.
Malone also called for the deportation of all 14,000 foreign criminals in UK jails, suspending foreign aid to countries that refuse to take them back, and criticized the reliance on ECHR rules as an excuse for inaction.
Government's Response
Burnham has defended the decision, claiming he pushed to the limits of what is possible without risking the prison system collapsing. He has also pledged to keep rapists and serious child sex offenders behind bars, but Malone questioned how he can differentiate between a killer and a rapist.
Labour has promised to create 14,000 new prison spaces with three new prisons, but these won't be ready until 2031, leaving a five-year gap during which more criminals could be released early.
