Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg is contemplating legal action against the government's decision to include individuals convicted of manslaughter in an upcoming early prison release scheme. The scheme, set to begin in October, will see thousands of prisoners released ahead of schedule to alleviate prison capacity issues. Hogg stated that he was informed that the police federation is considering legal action and that he is in discussions with them regarding the matter, adding that he would consider joining if legal advice supports it.
Two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, are among those who will be eligible for early release under the new rules. Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in PC Harper's death in August 2019. Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle involved, received a 16-year sentence for murder and is not eligible for early release.
PC Harper's wife, Lissie Harper, campaigned for tougher sentencing after his death. This led to the introduction of "Harper's Law" in 2022, which mandates life sentences for those convicted of killing emergency services workers. However, this law was not applied retrospectively to the sentencing of PC Harper's killers and therefore does not prevent their early release.
Hogg expressed that while he understands the challenges of prison overcrowding, he believes individuals responsible for taking a life should not be released early. He described the decision to release them early as "perverse," despite acknowledging that the law is not retrospective.
Justice Minister Jake Richards defended the government's decision, stating that it would be unlawful to exclude specific cases or offending groups from the scheme. He confirmed that manslaughter is not among the offenses excluded, which primarily include rape, grooming, and serious child sex offenses. Richards emphasized that the government must proceed with the broader sentencing act changes to avoid a prison capacity crisis in November.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris had previously warned of a potential prison capacity crisis if fewer prisoners were granted early release. He apologized to affected families, noting that while the government wished to exclude more offenses, it was not possible without running out of prison places. The revised scheme will allow for approximately 1,000 fewer early releases than initially planned, with around 5,000 releases to occur in batches starting in October. The government also announced an additional £10 million for front-line victim support services, including a new national helpline.