The UK government is facing renewed criticism over changes to its early prison release scheme, with accusations that it is endangering the public by releasing hundreds of dangerous offenders to make space for those convicted of unlawful killing.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a U-turn on the controversial scheme, stating that individuals convicted of unlawful killing will no longer be eligible for early release. This amendment means Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were convicted of manslaughter in the death of PC Andrew Harper, will remain imprisoned beyond their initially scheduled release. PC Harper's family and police leaders have expressed relief over this decision.
However, to accommodate this change and create additional prison capacity, the government plans to release inmates serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. IPP sentences were issued between 2005 and 2012 to offenders deemed a significant risk to the public. Current and former ministers have warned that releasing IPP prisoners poses a greater risk, as many have been repeatedly assessed as too dangerous for release.
One senior minister, speaking anonymously, criticized the plans, stating, "The Prime Minister has been too focused on media response rather than actual risk." The minister argued that while manslaughter convictions might not indicate a high likelihood of reoffending in the same manner, "the obsessed stalker or domestic abuser will come out and relentlessly pursue their victim again."
Campaigners and victims' advocates have also voiced concerns, asserting that the exemptions do not go far enough. They contend that persistent offenders, including domestic abusers and stalkers, will still be eligible for early release, placing victims in continued danger. Approximately 5,000 prisoners were initially slated for early release to alleviate jail overcrowding, a number reduced from 6,000 after rapists and serious child sex offenders were exempted.
Further exclusions announced by Mr. Burnham now block the early release of those convicted of manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, indecent assault, and grooming offenses. "We will now not only be keeping offenders serving time for indecent assault locked up, but also those in prison for manslaughter and death by dangerous driving," Mr. Burnham stated. "This means the awful criminals responsible for the killing of PC Andrew Harper will not have their sentence shortened."
Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, expressed that the announcement would not provide reassurance to victims of domestic abuse. "While it's good to see more dangerous offenders exempt from this scheme, I remain deeply concerned about the number of abusers who will still be eligible for early release," she said. "This decision does not change the fact that victims and survivors will still be forced to take measures to protect themselves from dangerous abusers because the Government and our criminal justice system cannot."
Former justice secretary David Gauke warned that releasing IPP prisoners carries "much higher risks." He noted that those remaining on IPP sentences are imprisoned for substantial reasons and have consistently been assessed as high risk. "In terms of public protection, releasing IPPs comes with much higher risks than the categories excluded from the early-release scheme," Gauke added.
Tory justice spokesman Nick Timothy questioned the specifics of the IPP releases, asking, "Will they all be released? Just some? How many? And on what timescale?" He criticized Mr. Burnham's shifting stance on early release, stating, "Andy Burnham's early-release policy will endanger the British public. He seems to be trying to stop the release of one set of dangerous criminals by releasing another set of dangerous criminals."
Sir Robert Buckland, a former justice secretary, stated that the criminal justice system is in crisis but argued that shifting from one set of dangerous criminals to another does little to protect the public. He urged the government to explain how it plans to increase prison capacity to address the crisis.
The government also plans to create space by deporting foreign national prisoners. As of June 30, there were 856 IPP prisoners in jail, with eight in ten having served at least ten years beyond their minimum parole eligibility. An additional 1,415 prisoners with IPP sentences have been recalled after release.
Jason Hogg, the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, welcomed the assurance that Bowers and Cole would remain incarcerated but reiterated concerns about broader early release plans and the potential reduction of shorter prison sentences. He described the criminal justice system as being in crisis, noting that forces might need to redirect resources from other priorities to manage offenders released into the community.
PC Andrew Harper was killed in August 2019 while attempting to stop a quad bike theft. A petition initiated by Aileen O'Connor, chairwoman of the Thames Valley Police Federation, garnered over a million signatures calling for Bowers and Cole to remain imprisoned. "We are pleased the Government – despite what was, frankly, initial reluctance – has eventually listened, seen sense and made the right decision to keep these lowlifes behind bars," O'Connor said.
Prime Minister Burnham has also met with revenge-porn campaigner Georgia Harrison to discuss her advocacy for "Georgia's Law," which seeks measures such as a social media "kill switch" to rapidly remove harmful content.