The widow of Police Constable Andrew Harper has voiced strong criticism of a plan that could allow some prisoners to be released early, describing the prospect as "deplorable." Lissie Harper's comments came amid reports that two of her husband's killers might be eligible for early release under the new Sentencing Act.
PC Harper was killed in August 2019 when he was dragged to his death behind a getaway car. His killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence for manslaughter but is not eligible for early release under the new act.
Lissie Harper stated that politicians making such decisions "from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences" for victims' families is unacceptable. She added that it is "deplorable" to have reached a point where early prisoner releases are considered. "We speak of justice, accountability and standing with victims, yet decisions like this do the opposite," she said in a statement.
In response to the public outcry and concerns raised, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced he would review the Sentencing Act policy. This act, set to take effect in September, will make thousands of offenders in England and Wales eligible for earlier release. "I can't say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward," Burnham stated on Wednesday.
Burnham acknowledged the significant pressure on prison capacity, attributing it to a lack of investment in the prison system over past years. "We have an unacceptable situation" due to this, he added. He assured that he would work with the justice secretary to thoroughly examine the policy before its implementation.
The Sentencing Act was passed earlier this year and is intended to alleviate overcrowding in prisons. This is not the first time successive governments have implemented early release schemes to manage prison populations; tens of thousands of inmates have been released since 2024 to create space.
Burnham also addressed remarks made by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who had apologized for comments about early releases. Burnham emphasized that joking about such matters is inappropriate and that Streeting's apology was warranted. He also expressed sympathy for the Harper family, calling the crime committed against PC Harper an "appalling crime."