The mother of PC Andrew Harper has said she is "grateful" her son's killers will not be released from prison early. In a major intervention, the Prime Minister announced a fresh series of exemptions from the controversial early release scheme, including those serving time for unlawful killing.
Those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, indecent assault and causing or allowing the death of a child will also not qualify, No10 said. This means that PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain behind bars after a prison release breakthrough, Andy Burnham has confirmed.
Mother speaks on BBC Breakfast
Appearing on Sunday's BBC Breakfast, Ms Adlam said she is "grateful" her son's killers will not be released from prison early, reports the Mirror.
Ms Adlam said: "Of course, I'm grateful. I'm glad that we don't have to go through any more of this now, and you know they will get to serve what they were actually supposed to be serving."
"It's a really mixed bag of emotions, though, because on the one hand we are glad, but we've been brought through the mill, and we are only back at where we were to start with.
"Go back a few months, this is where we were – so we're not making any headway or anything. We are just literally fighting to get back to where we were."
Concerns for others
"So I am glad, and I'm really grateful that you know this has been the outcome for us. I worry immensely for people that it doesn't happen for, and I think realistically the overall system has left some huge gaps still.
"And I just hope that what Andy Burnham says there, that they will be going into a further overhaul over the next few years – it really needs to happen for our sakes."
The Prime Minister ordered a review of the changes to the Sentencing Act, which is being undertaken by Justice Secretary Alex Norris and is set to be published when Parliament returns from summer recess.
Background to the case
That followed widespread condemnation of the scheme when it emerged Bowers and Cole could be released halfway through their 13-year sentences.
They were passengers in the car that dragged PC Harper down a country road after he got caught in a strap attached to the vehicle as they fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019.
BBC Breakfast continues at 6am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
