TalkTV was interrupted for an urgent breaking news update after Andy Burnham's controversial early prison release scheme was branded "revolting" live on air. The Labour scheme was paused in July following national outrage when it was revealed that the killers of PC Andrew Harper could be freed early.
While the Prime Minister has since stepped in to exclude convicted rapists, groomers and serious child sex offenders from the early release push, prison overcrowding means other criminals are still set to be let out.
Furious Exchange on Air
Author Philip Kiszely condemned Burnham's plan during a heated exchange with host Kevin O'Sullivan, warning the move is a "slap in the face" for decency that will force grieving families to relive their worst nightmares, reports the Express.
Speaking to Kevin O'Sullivan, Kiszely said: "There's no incentive here. This is just nonsense. This is, as his [PC Harper's] mum said, a slap in the face for decency. Let's just focus on the reason."
"This isn't some high meaning philosophical thing about justice and mercy. This is just the fact that the system is going to collapse if they don't let all of these people out."
He added: "What about all the foreign criminals that are in the system? Can we not just deport those and maybe start with that?"
Family's Reaction
Kiszely further stated: "It's about common sense. It's about common decency and it's about not forcing these poor people, the families of the victims, to revisit and relive the horror of this stuff day after day. It's condemning them to misery and it's just revolting."
PC Harper tragically lost his life in 2019 after becoming entangled in a strap attached to the rear of a vehicle and was dragged along a country lane as three teenage suspects made their escape from a burglary scene. His murderers, Albert Bower and Jessie Cole, were handed 13-year prison sentences for manslaughter in 2020.
The family of PC Harper, who was 28 when he died, have issued a blistering reaction to the announcement. His mother, Debbie Adlam, told BBC Breakfast: "Andrew deserves better than this and so do we. We are bitterly disappointed. I don't feel like we should be in this position. It's not somewhere we would expect to be. We really feel we should have more support than this."
