Families of homicide victims are calling for a complete exclusion of individuals convicted of manslaughter from the government's early release scheme, expressing concerns that victims are bearing the consequences of prison overcrowding.
In a letter addressed to Justice Secretary Alex Norris, signatories stated their belief that victims are "being asked to bear the consequences of the prison capacity crisis." The group includes relatives of victims such as PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in 2019 when he became entangled in a strap attached to a fleeing car during a quad bike theft. His killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were convicted of unlawful act manslaughter and are currently eligible for early release in January, halfway through their sentences.
The families are advocating for a broader exclusion than what is currently being considered. While reports indicate the government is moving to prevent those convicted of unlawful act manslaughter, like PC Harper's killers, from benefiting from the scheme, the letter argues that all forms of manslaughter, including voluntary manslaughter, should be excluded.
"We believe the Government is right to recognise that offences of this gravity should not benefit from accelerated release," the letter states. "As the Government considers excluding unlawful act manslaughter from the scheme, it must follow that all forms of manslaughter are also excluded, and notably voluntary manslaughter, which by law is a more serious crime."
Among the signatories is Emma Webber, whose son Barnaby was fatally stabbed in Nottingham in 2023. The perpetrator, Valdo Calocane, was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Also signing the letter is Diana Parkes, whose daughter Joanna Simpson was killed in 2010 by her estranged husband, Robert Brown, who was also convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
The families emphasized that voluntary manslaughter, which involves a killing with intent but where a partial defense like loss of control or diminished responsibility applies, can encompass serious domestic homicides. They argue that releasing offenders convicted of such crimes would be difficult to reconcile with the government's commitment to reducing violence against women and girls.
The letter also highlighted the case of Carol and her daughters Hannah and Louise, who were killed in 2024 by Louise's ex-boyfriend Kyle Clifford. Clifford was convicted of three counts of murder and received a whole-life sentence. Murderers are already excluded from the early release scheme.
In response, a Ministry of Justice spokesman stated that the government is "fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars." The spokesman added that murderers and those serving sentences for serious sexual offenses are already blocked from early release. The ministry is reportedly working to fix the prison system, which it inherited "on the brink of collapse," by building new prison places, expanding electronic tagging, and investing in probation services. Explorations are also underway regarding faster deportation of foreign criminals, better use of the women's estate, and reviewing indeterminate sentences.
Currently, without further changes, approximately 5,000 individuals are set to be released early under the scheme, a reduction from 6,000 following an initial review and the announcement of some exemptions.