Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to do “every single thing I can” to stop a Newcastle schoolboy’s killer being released early from prison. The Prime Minister apologised on Wednesday to the family of Archie York for the “limbo and anguish” being caused by the controversy surrounding Government plans to free up space in overcrowded prisons by reducing some offenders’ time behind bars.
Archie York's death and the sentencing controversy
Seven-year-old Archie was killed in 2024 by a tragic explosion caused by the illegal drugs lab being operated in the flat beneath his family home in Benwell. Drug dealer Reece Galbraith was handed a 14-year sentence after admitting manslaughter, but Archie’s family were told recently that changes under the Sentencing Act could mean that he serves only half of that in jail instead of the original two-thirds.
Archie’s mum, Katherine Errington, and the ChronicleLive have been pleading with ministers to prevent Galbraith and any other criminals responsible for the death of a child from becoming eligible for early release. Asked if he would support her campaign, Mr Burnham told the Chronicle during a visit to Newcastle: “I know this part of Newcastle well and I know the feeling that there is here about what happened to Archie, and the support that Katherine and her family have.
Prime Minister's pledge and actions
“What I can say is that this is the reason why, when I came into office, I paused what I inherited because I was not happy with it. Everything possible should be done to prevent the release of people who have been involved in killings like this and that is why I am asking the justice secretary to come to Parliament a week on Tuesday to present his revised plan.
“I can’t say to you today that everything is in place, but I am working hard to see what we can do to minimise the release of all offenders, but particularly those that have been involved in some of the more serious crimes – and particularly crimes that involve the loss of a young life.”
Mr Burnham, who visited homelessness charity Changing Lives in Elswick, was speaking just a few minutes’ drive from the scene of the horrifying Violet Close explosion. After entering Downing Street, Mr Burnham had ordered a pause on the early release plans and later announced that rapists, child sex offenders and those guilty of grooming gang offences would be ineligible.
Family's response and ongoing campaign
He has since promised further action and instructed justice secretary Alex Norris to fast-track plans to create more headroom within the prison system. Mr Burnham added on Wednesday: “I can get a message to Katherine to say that I hear you, I can only imagine how the last few years have been, but particularly recent weeks. I know she will be seeing the debate in the media and I do say sorry to her for the limbo and anguish she must be feeling as this plays through.
“I hope she will understand why I am doing what I am doing, which is to pause this and turn over every possible stone to make sure that people who should be inside prison stay inside prison. That is what I am doing and I assure her that I am doing every single thing I can, I will push the system as hard as I can, to make sure people involved in crimes like this are not released.”
Katherine, 28, welcomed the Prime Minister’s comments – but challenged the Government to come good on his words when Mr Norris delivers the revised early release plans to Parliament in September. The heartbroken mum said: “I am happy that this has reached him [Mr Burnham], that he knows about Archie’s story, and that he has the same views as me.
“I have hope, but I am not going to be jumping for joy until we know for definite. I am not getting my hopes up too much until we have that statement from the justice secretary a week on Tuesday.”
Katherine recently launched a petition urging the Government to exclude those convicted of manslaughter or of serious child abuse or neglect offences from eligibility for early release, with more than 4,000 people having put their names to that campaign now. It also calls for Dana Carr, the mum of murdered County Durham toddler Maya Chappell, to be blocked from early release. Carr was jailed for nine years after being found guilty of child cruelty by neglect and allowing the death of a child, and she may also be eligible for early release under the sentencing reforms.
Ministers have also faced heavy pressure over the PC Andrew Harper case. He was fatally injured in 2019 when he became caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and was dragged down a country road in Berkshire as his killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft. Two of his three killers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, are currently set to be released halfway through their 13-year manslaughter sentences next year.
