The Government has confirmed it will announce in September how it will exempt Pc Andrew Harper's killers and other serious offenders from its early release scheme. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner told LBC that Justice Secretary Alex Norris will outline the plans when Parliament returns after its summer break.
Ms Rayner said: "The Prime Minister is really clear, the Justice Secretary will come to Parliament in September to lay out our plans on how we keep the most serious criminals in jail." When asked if this would include killers of police officers, she replied: "Yes."
Pressure from family and police
The announcement comes amid mounting pressure from Pc Harper's family and police to prevent Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter, from being freed in January under current plans. The two were convicted in 2020 after Pc Harper was dragged to his death in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019.
On Monday, Downing Street said it was "not possible" to exempt "one or two offenders" convicted of manslaughter, but later said Mr Norris will look at ways to keep "a greater number of the most serious offenders" behind bars.
Possible solutions
Housing minister Sally Jameson said: "It is important that we find a way, and I’m sure the Justice Secretary will find a way to make sure that Pc Harper’s killers are not released early." However, it is understood a solution has not yet been found, though Mr Norris is considering options including speeding up deportations of foreign criminals, reviewing indeterminate sentences, and looking at women prisoner jail terms.
Petition and public response
More than 900,000 people have signed a petition calling for Pc Harper's killers to remain in jail. The early release scheme, part of the Sentencing Act, will see around 5,000 prisoners released early, down from 6,000 after exemptions for rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming offences.
Pc Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, said she received a call from Downing Street and has "got a little bit of hope that we didn’t have before." But she added: "It feels like a hash. It feels like a rush job." Thames Valley Police Federation chairwoman Aileen O’Connor expressed confidence that "the powers that be" would make the right choices.
