Early Release Scheme Tightened After Public Outcry
New policy bars those convicted of unlawful killing from early release, impacting hundreds as prison capacity strains.
Callum Smith
PC Andrew Harper's killers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, were convicted of unlawful killing and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Under previous regulations, Bowers and Cole would have been eligible for release next year, having served half of their 13-year sentences.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared, "I heard obviously what Andrew Harper’s family were saying, I mean who couldn’t? Nobody would want a position to arise where those guilty of killing a police officer are let out early from prison."
He further confirmed, "We’ve come up with a proposal which will allow not just those guilty of manslaughter, the people involved in the killing of PC Harper, but those who have been convicted for indecent assault, those convicted for death by dangerous driving, all of these offenders now will remain in prison. Hundreds of them."
This means the criminals responsible for PC Andrew Harper's killing will not have their sentences shortened, the Prime Minister affirmed.
Burnham made the announcement in an interview, rather than a parliamentary statement; government officials reportedly spoke to victims' families beforehand.
Since assuming the premiership, Andy Burnham had previously excluded rapists and child sex offenders from the scheme.
He stated, "That's why I took action during my first weeks as Prime Minister to block some of the very worst in society being released before they should."
That's why I took action during my first weeks as Prime Minister to block some of the very worst in society being released before they should.
Burnham added, "We moved quickly to block vile criminals who commit rape, sexually abuse children and groom vulnerable young people."
He maintained, "But I always said I wanted to do more. We will now not only be keeping offenders serving time for indecent assault locked up, but also those in prison for manslaughter and death by dangerous driving."
The number of people expected to be released early under the scheme has reportedly decreased from 6,000 to 5,000 following these exemptions.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris is undertaking the review of the Sentencing Act changes; full details are expected when Parliament returns from summer recess in September.
The early release scheme is scheduled to commence on October 1st, while the prison system in England and Wales currently operates at over 97% capacity.
The Ministry of Justice had warned that exempting more prisoners risked "prisons reaching capacity and collapsing," though Whitehall sources state there will be no more additional exemptions.
Government powers are set to be implemented early next year to deport some foreign criminals immediately after sentencing.