Burnham orders justice secretary to block PC Harper killers' early release
UK PM Andy Burnham tells his justice secretary to find a way to exclude two manslaughter convicts from a prisoner early release scheme.
Conversation activity · last 3 days peak 12/hr
Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 44 items across 5 sources · 12h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to devise a solution preventing the early release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who killed police constable Andrew Harper in 2019 and are set to become eligible for release in January 2026 under new sentencing changes. Burnham said he is "increasingly confident" a revised scheme can keep the killers in jail while freeing prison space through other means, rejecting earlier warnings that exempting manslaughter convicts would force further mass releases.
- Burnham ordered a revised early release scheme within three weeks of becoming PM, reversing earlier government warnings that exempting manslaughter convicts was impossible.
- Justice Secretary Norris must present a plan to parliament in early September based on removing foreign offenders, resolving IPP sentences, and using female prisons for male inmates to create space.
- Cole and Bowers become eligible for release in January 2026 under sentencing changes made this year; their third co-killer Henry Long cannot be released due to a longer extended determinate sentence.
- PC Harper's widow Lissie Harper and witnesses like dog handler Chris Bushnell have been vocal in opposing early release, building public and political pressure on the government.
How it unfolded
-
Burnham publishes a Facebook post saying he is "increasingly confident" a solution can be found. He has asked Justice Secretary Norris to present a plan to parliament in early September based on: removing foreign national offenders, resolving IPP sentences, and using female prison estate for male offenders.
“I have not accepted that it is impossible to do more.”
Andy Burnham · Press ↗ -
Reaction Harper's mother expresses hope
Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, tells the BBC she has "a bit of hope" after a call from Downing Street about potentially excluding the killers from early release.
-
The Guardian reports that officials have cautioned Burnham against changing the scheme, saying an exemption for manslaughter would require more releases elsewhere.
-
Event PM orders revised scheme
Prime Minister Burnham tells Justice Secretary Alex Norris to find a way to exclude Cole and Bowers from the early release scheme, making daily calls while on holiday to push for a solution.
-
Prison Service officials warn Prime Minister Burnham that exempting manslaughter convicts from the early release scheme would force another spate of releases within 18 months before the next general election.
- 344 weeks quiet
-
Event Killers sentenced
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter (not murder). Vehicle driver Henry Long received a longer 16-year extended determinate sentence.
- 22 weeks quiet
-
Event PC Andrew Harper killed
Police constable Andrew Harper, 28, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, was dragged behind a getaway car driven by teenagers fleeing a quad bike theft in Berkshire. He died in the line of duty.
What people are saying verbatim
“I have not accepted that it is impossible to do more.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · Guardian World (Facebook post) ↗ · Aug 10
“I am increasingly confident that a more focused approach along these lines will allow us to reduce the number of people released early and, in the case of the most serious offenders like those convicted of the killing of PC Harper, prevent their early release altogether.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · Guardian World (Facebook post) ↗ · Aug 10
“I've seen people die before. I've seen suicides. This was beyond brutal. It was awful.”
Chris Bushnell, Former police dog handler · BBC News ↗ · Aug 10
“To think they could be released early is absolutely outrageous.”
Chris Bushnell, Former police dog handler · BBC News ↗ · Aug 10
“I understand the depth of public concern about the potential early release of those involved with the killing of PC Andrew Harper - and I share it.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · Guardian World (Facebook post) ↗ · Aug 10
“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.”
Government spokesperson, Spokesperson for UK Government · BBC News ↗ · Aug 10
Voices from the web unedited
-
EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham has told his justice secretary to draw up plans to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers and present them to parliament amid a mounting backlash from the victim’s family and the police The prime minister was said to be “increasingly
-
13% of prisoners are in for drug offences ... so maybe it's time to end the war on drugs? It's pretty conclusive drugs have won at this point. Even if you make the 13% serve their sentences if they're not replaced it basically totally solves overcrowding. And moreover the tax revenue would be really useful, especially for mental health and…
-
I don’t think the public would like to see it framed as a capitulation, but there is definitely a good argument to decriminalise many drugs while also preventing criminals going legitimate and supporting clean suppliers, while bleeding organised crime of its profits for a cheaper and safer product for consumers (and raking in tax £££).
-
Decriminalisation perhaps is a better word. Not sure legalisation is sensible nor would it alleviate strain on the NHS. The country already has a pretty serious issue with crack/cocaine and legalisation would just make that worse not better.