The UK government is facing criticism for a revised early-release scheme that could lead to the early release of dangerous offenders, despite changes aimed at keeping the killers of PC Andrew Harper behind bars. Labour ministers have been accused of prioritizing public perception over genuine risk assessments.
Under the updated policy, individuals convicted of unlawful killing, including manslaughter and death by dangerous driving, will no longer be eligible for early release. This ensures that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, convicted of PC Harper's manslaughter in 2020, will not be released next year, a decision welcomed by PC Harper's family and police leaders. However, to create space in prisons for this change, the government plans to release inmates serving indefinite sentences under Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. These sentences were imposed between 2005 and 2012 on offenders deemed a significant risk to the public.
Former and current ministers have warned that releasing IPP prisoners could pose a substantially higher risk, as many have been repeatedly assessed as dangerous. One senior Labour minister, speaking anonymously, stated that the government's focus has been on media response rather than actual risk, arguing that obsessive stalkers and domestic abusers are more likely to re-offend than those convicted of manslaughter.
Campaigners have also expressed concern, asserting that the exemptions do not go far enough. They highlight that persistent offenders, including domestic abusers and stalkers, will still be eligible for early release, potentially endangering victims. Approximately 5,000 prisoners were initially slated for early release to alleviate overcrowding, a figure reduced from 6,000 after rapists and serious child sex offenders were exempted.
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, conveyed disappointment, stating that the announcement offers no reassurance to victims of domestic abuse. She remains concerned about the number of abusers still eligible for release, noting that victims will continue to bear the burden of self-protection due to perceived failures in the criminal justice system.
Former justice secretary David Gauke echoed these concerns, characterizing IPP prisoners as high-risk individuals who remain incarcerated for valid reasons. He suggested that releasing them carries greater risks than excluding categories like manslaughter offenders from the scheme. Nick Timothy, a Tory justice spokesman, questioned the specifics of the IPP releases, including the number and timeline, and expressed skepticism about the government's evolving stance on early release.
Sir Robert Buckland, another former justice secretary, criticized the policy shift, arguing it merely replaces one set of dangerous criminals with another without effectively protecting the public. He called for the government to address prison capacity as the fundamental solution to the ongoing crisis.
IPP sentences were abolished in 2012, but existing prisoners remain subject to them. Release is contingent on the Parole Board being satisfied that they no longer pose a public safety risk. As of June 30, 856 IPP prisoners were incarcerated, with eight in ten having served at least ten years beyond their minimum parole eligibility. An additional 1,415 prisoners have been recalled after receiving IPP sentences.
The government plans to create further prison spaces by deporting foreign nationals. A cross-party oversight group will be established to examine the IPP system. Jason Hogg, the head of Thames Valley Police, welcomed the guarantee that Bowers and Cole will remain imprisoned but shared general concerns among police leaders about early release and the reduction of shorter prison sentences. He described the criminal justice system as being in crisis, necessitating resource reallocation to manage offenders released into communities.
PC Harper was killed in August 2019 while attempting to stop a quad bike theft. The Thames Valley Police Federation initiated a petition with over a million signatures urging the government to keep Bowers and Cole imprisoned. The Federation expressed relief that their petition's objective was ultimately met.