The mother of PC Andrew Harper has called it an “insult” that two of her son’s killers may be freed early — a revelation that has forced the new prime minister to halt and review the entire early release policy.
Andy Burnham, speaking in Bath, said he wanted to “assure myself that everything has been looked at” before the scheme proceeds. “Nobody can deny the pressure on prison places,” he told reporters. “We did not invest in the prison estate when we should as a country, going back a decade or so ago, when it was clear that there was going to be pressure. That has created an unacceptable situation now.”
“Burnham reviews early release scheme after PC Harper killers' potential release sparks outrage.”
Burnham said he would look into “every single part of this” with the justice secretary and could not promise he would not change the policy completely. The review follows outrage over the potential early release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car that killed PC Harper. Both were 17 years old at the time and handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed they might be eligible to be released halfway through their sentences.
Earlier this week, transport secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the driver of the car would not be eligible for automatic release. PC Harper, 28, suffered fatal injuries in August 2019 after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road in Berkshire as the three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft.
Under the new Sentencing Act, due to come into force in September, around 6,000 criminals are set to be released early. But Burnham’s spokesperson on Tuesday indicated that a number of key policies introduced by Sir Keir Starmer would be under review, including the early release scheme, the plan to scrap some jury trials, and the deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. “The prime minister has been in the door of No 10 just over 24 hours and he’s still making appointments to his government so we will update on policy areas in due course,” the spokesperson said.
With Burnham now personally examining the scheme, the fate of the two killers — and thousands of other prisoners — hangs in the balance.
