Justice Secretary Alex Norris is planning to change the law to prevent criminals convicted of a specific type of manslaughter from being eligible for early release. The proposed legislation is expected to keep Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, two of the men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper, in prison beyond their initial sentences. Bowers and Cole were scheduled for release next year, halfway through their 13-year sentences, a prospect that drew widespread condemnation.
PC Harper was killed in August 2019 in Berkshire when he responded to a quad bike theft. He became entangled in a strap attached to a fleeing car and was dragged down a road. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release under the current rules. Bowers and Cole, who were passengers in the vehicle, were each sentenced to 13 years.
The early release scheme, introduced by the Labour government in September 2024, aims to alleviate prison overcrowding by allowing certain inmates to be released after serving 40% of their sentence, rather than the standard 50%. A further change enacted by the 2026 Sentencing Act further expands this by reducing the threshold to one-third of a fixed-term sentence.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had previously ordered a review of the scheme, with Justice Secretary Norris tasked with developing measures to maximize public safety and minimize early releases. Reports suggest Norris will introduce secondary legislation to amend the Sentencing Act to exclude offenders convicted of 'unlawful act' manslaughter.
This specific type of manslaughter occurs when a death results from another illegal act, such as the incident involving PC Harper. The proposed exemption is not anticipated to affect cases of voluntary manslaughter, which involves intentional killing with a partial defense, or gross negligence manslaughter, stemming from extreme carelessness. Domestic abusers may still be eligible for early release under the proposed changes.
Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd had previously suggested that exempting unlawful act manslaughter could be a viable solution to prevent the early release of PC Harper's killers, noting that the different types of manslaughter are distinguishable.
Following Mr. Burnham's prior actions to exclude rapists and child sex offenders from the early release scheme, the number of anticipated early releases has been reduced from 6,000 to approximately 5,000 individuals.
A government spokesperson stated that the death of PC Harper was a horrific crime and expressed solidarity with his family and the police community. The spokesperson added that the government is pursuing options to keep more serious offenders in prison, referencing Harper's Law, which mandates life sentences for those convicted of killing an emergency worker during a crime. The government has also introduced a presumption of whole-life orders for individuals convicted of murdering police, prison, or probation officers.