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Andy Burnham confident release of PC Harper's killers will be blocked

Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked by new PM Andy Burnham with finding ways to keep the serious offenders in prison, including the killers of PC Harper

Andy Burnham said he is increasingly confident the killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early from their sentences.

The Prime Minister said action can be taken to free up prison space to reduce the number of people released early, and vowed to press "every single day to go further on limiting the number of inmates who will be set free.

Downing Street had previously said it was not possible to exempt one or two offenders convicted of manslaughter from the early release scheme, only for Mr Burnham to order his Justice Secretary to look again at the issue.

It comes amid increasing pressure from PC Harpers family and the police not to allow Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter, to be freed in January.

[Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked with blocking some early releases]

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Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked with blocking some early releases(Image: 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)

In a statement Mr Burnham said he is increasingly confident that plans to increase headroom in prisons will mean the number of prisoners being released early, including two of PC Andrew Harpers killers, can be reduced.

He said: "I have asked the Justice Secretary (Alex Norris) to fast-track the development of a plan for presentation to Parliament early next month to create more headroom within the prison system.

It will be based on a range of options including the three strands of further work I asked him to initiate last week: increasing the rate of removal of foreign national offenders from the prison estate to their country of origin; finding an early resolution to the long-running injustice of IPP sentences, which could allow for the release of lower-risk prisoners; and making greater use of the entire prison estate including using the female estate for male offenders.I am increasingly confident that a more focused approach along these lines will allow us to reduce the number of people released early and, in the case of the most serious offenders like those convicted of the killing of PC Harper, prevent their early release altogether.In advance of the Justice Secretarys proposals being presented to Parliament, we will seek to engage other political parties in discussions with the aim of gaining the widest possible public and political consensus on the approach being taken."However, I recognise that, even with all these changes, there will be concerns from many victims about who will still be released early for other offences. I am doing all I can, but it is simply not possible to prevent all offenders from being released early without the prison system collapsing.

[Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers could be blocked from early release]

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Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers could be blocked from early release(Image: Thames Valley Police/PA Wire)

Speaking during a visit in Derbyshire, the Prime Minister added: I dont want to see a single prisoner released early, and thats the spirit that Ive brought to the first three weeks that Ive served as Prime Minister, and Ive always worked like that.

Ive never taken no for an answer, not in the past dealing with Hillsborough and other issues, and not now when Im facing the situation that Im looking at now. Its always been my style, I wont give up, and I believe there is more I can do.

Its my job to speak up for the public on this issue. I take that duty very seriously indeed, and Im confident that theres more that can be done, and will be done to address public concern.

Mr Burnham also vowed to keep close to the family of PC Andrew Harper. He said: My office was in touch with the family last night, and I know the Justice Secretary is in regular touch as well.

So, we will keep close to the family through this whole process because we understand how difficult this process has been for them.

Elsewhere, Angela Rayner told broadcasters the Government will block PC Andrew Harpers killers from its early release scheme.

Speaking to LBC, Ms Rayner said: The Prime Minister is really clear, the Justice Secretary will come to Parliament in September to lay out our plans on how we keep the most serious criminals in jail.

Presenter Nick Ferrari asked: And that would include killers of police officers?

Ms Rayner replied: Yes.

PC Harper was 28 when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. He died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary.

The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for release.

More than 880,000 people have signed a petition calling for PC Harpers killers to remain in jail. Speaking on Tuesday morning, the police officer who started the petition said she is optimistic the Government will prevent them being freed.

Thames Valley Police Federation chairwoman Aileen OConnor told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Theres a little bit of glimmer of hope and encouragement with this latest release that we heard last night, but I cant lose sight of just hours before that we heard that there was no possibility. So for me, Im encouraged, Im optimistic.

And I genuinely believe that the powers that be, Andy Burnham and the difficult decisions that they have to make he will make the right choices here, and he will come on board with us, and hell get the right side of the line. The strength of feeling up and down the country, where over 900,000 people have signed that petition, thats the British public that have got behind this campaign.

This is their voice, and this is about justice for Andrew and justice for Lissie and his family.

[Debbie Adlam spoke with Downing Street on Monday night]

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Debbie Adlam spoke with Downing Street on Monday night(Image: ITV)

PC Harpers mother said she had received a call from Downing Street on Monday night and has got a little bit of hope that we didnt have before that the killers will not be released early.

Discussing the call she had with a member of the Prime Ministers staff, Debbie Adlam told BBC Breakfast: She said that he wanted to convey that he wants to do everything that he can and has more hope now of finding a resolution to this to try and keep them in prison.

I think the fact that its actually come from Downing Street Ive got to try and have some faith in it but, at the same time, I have to protect my own feelings.

It comes after Mr Burnham last week tightened rules so that rape and serious child sexual offences would be excluded from early release. The controversial programme to let offenders free early was designed to avoid the collapse of the crisis-hit prison system

The early release changes were part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year that cut the minimum amount of time many offenders would have to spend in prison.

Those freed will face tougher probation conditions, including electronic monitoring, random drug testing and possible bans from driving, pubs and events such as football matches.

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