A government scheme for early prison release is facing significant controversy and expectations that it will proceed in September, despite calls for a review. The plan, part of the new Sentencing Act set to take effect in September, could allow up to 6,000 inmates to be released early. However, the government has yet to confirm if individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder, rape, and pedophilia, will be exempt.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated his intention to review the scheme in detail before its implementation. This comes after public outcry, particularly from Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, who described the potential early release of her husband's killers as "deplorable." Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were convicted of manslaughter for their role in PC Harper's death and sentenced to 13 years, may become eligible for release after serving half their sentences.
PC Harper died in August 2019 at the age of 28 while responding to a quad bike theft. He was killed after getting caught in a strap attached to a fleeing car. Cole and Bowers were 17 at the time of the incident and were passengers in the vehicle. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for the early release scheme.
Lissie Harper has expressed her dismay, stating that politicians making decisions from behind desks have "real and lasting consequences" for victims' families. Debbie Adlam, PC Harper's mother, echoed these sentiments, calling the potential early release an "insult."
Andy Burnham, whose review of the policy was ordered, acknowledged the pressure on prison capacity, attributing it to underinvestment in the prison estate over the past decade. He assured that the policy would be examined thoroughly with the Justice Secretary before any further steps are taken, although he could not definitively rule out the policy's complete alteration.
Despite the review, Downing Street sources and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds have indicated that, as things stand, the scheme is still slated to proceed in September. Reynolds stated that details of any changes or outcomes of the review would be set out by Burnham and the Justice Secretary in the coming weeks.
The controversy also saw a brief political skirmish when Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made remarks that were interpreted as jokes about the Justice Secretary's perceived leniency. Prime Minister Sunak subsequently rebuked his ministers for these comments, which were caught on a "hot mic."
PC Harper's death prompted Lissie Harper to campaign for tougher sentences for those who kill emergency workers. This advocacy contributed to the introduction of Harper's Law within the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which mandates life sentences for the manslaughter of on-duty emergency personnel. However, this law is not retrospective and does not apply to PC Harper's killers.