Andy Burnham has asked his Justice Secretary to 'work through further options' to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
Pressure from family and police
The Prime Minister is facing increasing pressure from PC Harper's family and the police not to allow Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers to be freed in January under existing plans. The pair were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020.
PC Harper was fatally injured when he got caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and was dragged down a country road as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019. Two out of three of his killers, Cole and Bowers, are set to be released half way through their sentences.
Early release scheme changes
Around 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after some exemptions were announced as part of an urgent review of the scheme to tackle jail overcrowding. Exemptions were made for those convicted of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming offences.
On Monday, Downing Street said it was 'not possible' to exempt 'one or two offenders' convicted of manslaughter from the early release scheme. However, Justice Secretary Alex Norris will now look at ways to keep 'a greater number of the most serious offenders' behind bars.
Government response
A Government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has asked the Justice Secretary to work through further options to keep a greater number of the most serious offenders in prison, including the killers of Pc Harper.”
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