Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain in prison, as he announced modifications to the early release scheme. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Burnham stated that individuals convicted of unlawful killing, including manslaughter, will be excluded from the scheme, which would have made two of PC Harper's killers eligible for early release.
The announcement follows campaigning by PC Harper's family and former colleagues. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020, would previously have been eligible for release after serving half their sentences.
Mr Burnham said that additional prison capacity would be created by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing some inmates serving indefinite sentences, known as Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. He conceded that the changes would result in "hundreds" more people staying in prison, requiring additional space in a system that is over 97% full in England and Wales.
The prime minister also stated that prisoners convicted of indecent assault offences, death by dangerous driving, historic child sex offences, and causing or allowing the death of a child will also be exempted from the early release scheme. New "restriction zones" are planned to protect domestic violence survivors from perpetrators released early.
The Sentencing Act 2026 was designed to alleviate prison overcrowding by allowing earlier release for many inmates, with the scheme scheduled to begin on 1 October. The justice secretary is expected to provide a more precise figure for the number of people affected when he makes a statement in Parliament on Tuesday.