Prime Minister Andy Burnham has rebuked two of his Cabinet ministers for making jokes about early prison releases, an incident that has coincided with widespread outrage over the potential early release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper. The Prime Minister stated it was 'unacceptable' for Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to joke about Justice Secretary Alex Norris wanting to "let them all out."

Political Fallout and Public Anger

The controversial remarks were caught on a "hot mic" and have amplified public anger, particularly from PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. Both condemned the ministers' levity in light of the possibility that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, convicted of PC Harper's manslaughter, could be eligible for release halfway through their sentences under Labour's new Sentencing Act, set to take effect in September. This act could lead to the early release of approximately 6,000 prisoners.

Kemi Badenoch criticized the situation, stating, "Yesterday Cabinet ministers were joking about letting criminals out of jail early. Today we learn that the vile thugs who killed PC Andrew Harper are eligible for early release under Labour." She also noted Burnham's previous stance against early release for rapists and paedophiles, questioning if this extended to the killers of emergency workers.

PC Andrew Harper was 28 when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. He died after being dragged down a road by a car as suspects fled. His killers, Cole and Bowers, were 17 at the time of the incident and received 13-year sentences for manslaughter. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for the early release scheme.

Lissie Harper described the potential early release of her husband's killers as "deplorable" and an "insult." She stated that such decisions made by politicians "tell victims their suffering matters less, and offenders that the punishment handed down by our courts is no longer what they will actually serve." PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, echoed these sentiments, calling the prospect "sick" and a "slap in the face."

Ministers' Apologies and Policy Review

Wes Streeting issued an apology for his remarks, explaining they were a reference to an old joke shared between former Prime Minister Theresa May and Kenneth Clarke. He stated there was "no ill intent" and apologized for "any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity." Shabana Mahmood also emphasized that there was "no ill intent" and that the "moment of levity" should not be mistaken for a lack of serious intent regarding the justice system.

Prime Minister Burnham indicated that PC Harper's case could prompt a broader review of the early release policy. He acknowledged the pressure on prison spaces but assured that he would "review the whole of this policy" with the Justice Secretary to ensure everything has been thoroughly examined before its implementation. He did not rule out the possibility of a complete policy change.

An anonymous Ministry of Justice spokesman stated that the government is "fully focused on keeping the public safe" and is "building prison places at the fastest rate since the Victorian era." The government maintains that the Sentencing Act will not permit early releases for offenders deemed "the most dangerous."

Broader Context and Public Reaction

The Police Federation for England and Wales called the early release policy "disgusting," with deputy national chairman Brian Booth expressing that officers across the country would be "utterly sickened at the prospect of Bowers and Cole being back on the streets so soon."

Harpers Law, enacted after PC Harper's death, mandates life sentences for anyone convicted of manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty. However, this law is not retrospective, meaning it cannot be applied to the existing sentences of Cole and Bowers.