Andrew Harper killers still eligible for early release
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has barred rapists, child sex offenders and groomers from England and Wales’ early prison release scheme, now delayed until October. Killers of PC Andrew Harper remain eligible, prompting fury from his widow Lissie Harper and police leaders who say the decision undermines public confidence and bereaved families.
The move follows Burnham’s pause of the scheme on 23 July after backlash from survivors and victims. About 6,000 offenders had been due for early release in September amid forecasts that prisons could be full by November. Coverage of related cases continues across our true crime and unsolved mysteries hub.
Key Takeaways
- Rape, serious child sex offences and grooming are excluded from the early release changes.
- Two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers remain eligible for halfway release on manslaughter sentences.
- The scheme restarts in October, with tagging, longer supervision and restriction zones planned.
- An extra £10 million will fund frontline victim support, including a new national helpline.
- Domestic abuse perpetrators are not excluded, drawing criticism from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.
What changed in the early release scheme?
Under Burnham’s announcement, offenders sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be cut out of the early release changes. The government said this does not require fresh legislation before October, though further amendments may follow.
Prisoners serving fixed sentences of four years or more can still qualify for release halfway through, rather than at two-thirds. Those on less serious terms could leave after a third of their sentence instead of half. Releases will be phased, starting with shorter sentences and extending to inmates jailed for 12 years or more by June 2027.
Burnham said he “wanted to go even further” but that doing so risked the prison system collapsing and putting the public “at much greater risk.” The “presumption” will be electronic tagging plus tougher community rules, including restriction zones. Separately, people who serve full terms for rape or serious child sex offences face 12 months of GPS monitoring and stronger supervision after release.
Why are Andrew Harper’s killers still eligible?
PC Andrew Harper, 28, was killed in 2019 after being dragged by a car in Berkshire as three teenagers fled a quad bike theft. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for manslaughter and can become eligible for halfway release under the sentencing changes. Henry Long, described as the main perpetrator, will not be subject to early release.
Harper’s family previously said the Ministry of Justice confirmed his killers could be included. If convicted today, Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg noted, they would face life sentences under the law created in Harper’s name and would not qualify for early release.
How have victims and police reacted?
Lissie Harper called it “disgusting” that her husband’s killers could walk free early and said she was “beyond appalled.” Debbie Adlam, Harper’s mother, had already branded their proposed inclusion “another letdown.” Police Federation chair Tiff Lynch warned that freeing those who took an officer’s life early risks public safety and confidence.
Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs said excluding partner abusers was “wrong” and “puts victims’ lives at risk.” Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy called the move a “U-turn” that “doesn’t go far enough,” noting some killers and child sex offenders will still leave early. Full detail is in the BBC report.
The Ministry of Justice has not published how many prisoners will stay locked up under the rape and child-sex exclusions, or when modelling next expects jails to fill again.