A leading prison officers' union chief has suggested a practical method to potentially prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers, asserting that freeing up cell space for thousands of remand prisoners could create capacity. Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers' Association, stated on Tuesday that he is "positive we could free up additional space" by bailing or electronically tagging individuals awaiting trial. This assertion directly challenges the government's stance that it is "not possible" to exclude specific offenders from early release schemes.
Downing Street has maintained that preventing the early release of "one or two offenders" is not feasible and could risk overcrowding. The government plans to release approximately 5,000 inmates early over ten months, starting in October, to address prison capacity issues. Among those eligible for early release are Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were convicted in connection with the death of PC Harper in 2019.
PC Harper, 28, died while responding to a reported quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. Cole and Bowers, who were minors at the time of the incident, attempted to flee the scene in a car driven by Henry Long. PC Harper's ankles became entangled in the tow rope of the car, and he was dragged to his death. Long is not eligible for early release.
Fairhurst suggested that the government could bail or tag a significant portion of the estimated 17,000 remand prisoners. "That's an easy win for this government and I can't understand why they don't consider it," he said, adding that this could allow for the blocking of early release for anyone convicted of manslaughter. Approximately 950 prisoners are convicted of manslaughter, with an estimated 500 of them eligible for early release.
Ministers have previously stated that creating an exemption for the manslaughter of an emergency worker is not a viable option due to potential legal challenges and the lack of a specific offense. Prime Minister Andy Burnham's office indicated that he had already "pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do" by exempting 1,000 individuals convicted of serious sexual offenses from early release.
Christopher Bushnell, the first officer on the scene of PC Harper's death, expressed outrage at the prospect of the killers' early release, calling it "absolutely outrageous" and accusing ministers of "spitting in the face" of police officers. A petition calling for Cole and Bowers to remain incarcerated had garnered nearly 900,000 signatures.
PC Harper's family and colleagues have vocally opposed the early release, with Aileen O'Connor, Chair of Thames Valley Police Federation, stating that there should be "no ifs. No buts" for those convicted of killing a police officer and vowing to pursue all legal avenues to keep the offenders behind bars.