No early release for PC Harper's killers under new scheme changes
Prime Minister exempts those convicted of unlawful killing from release programme
The killers of Pc Andrew Harper will not be eligible for early release following changes announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to the current prisoner release scheme.
Under the revised scheme, individuals convicted of unlawful killing, including manslaughter, indecent assault, and death by dangerous driving, will remain in prison.
Burnham explained the policy shift in a BBC interview, emphasising concerns raised by Pc Harper's family about early release for those guilty of killing police officers.
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, the pair involved in the death of Pc Harper, were previously eligible for release halfway through their 13-year sentences, prompting public outcry.
The controversy arose after Bowers and Cole dragged Pc Harper down a country road in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, by a strap attached to their fleeing vehicle in 2019.
To address prison overcrowding, Burnham proposed deporting foreign prisoners and releasing inmates serving indefinite sentences to create additional space.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked with reviewing the scheme, with a report expected to be published in September when Parliament reconvenes.
These measures aim to bolster public confidence in the penal system and ensure that severe offenders serve appropriate sentence durations.