Andy Burnham to review early release scheme following backlash
Andy Burnham will review the government’s early release scheme following backlash over the potential early release of two of police officer Andrew Harper’s killers, reports BritPanorama.
The prime minister stated he wants to ensure “everything has been looked at” before the policy, introduced under Sir Keir Starmer, is implemented as planned in September.
This examination follows comments from the mother of PC Harper, who described the possibility of the early release of her son’s killers as an “insult.” PC Harper sustained fatal injuries in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire.
PC Harper died after being dragged down a country road, having been caught in a strap attached to a fleeing vehicle. Henry Long received a 16-year sentence, while Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were each sentenced to 13 years for his manslaughter in 2020.
Earlier on Wednesday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that Long would not be eligible for automatic release, while his two accomplices could potentially be released after serving half of their sentences.
The prime minister remarked, “All I can say is I will review the whole of this policy. Nobody can deny the pressure on prison places.” He acknowledged a lack of investment in the prison estate over the past decade, contributing to the current crisis.
Under the new Sentencing Act, effective in September, around 6,000 offenders may be eligible for early release on good behaviour, thereby allowing them to serve the remainder of their sentences within the community, alongside an expansion of electronic tagging.
This follows more than 43,000 offenders being automatically released after serving 40 percent of their sentences in 2025, a response necessitated by overcrowding in prisons, as authorities aimed to avert what was described as the “collapse of a justice system.”
Amidst this backdrop, the prime minister’s spokesperson indicated that several policies initiated by Starmer are under scrutiny, including those regarding prisoner releases and jury trials.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that Cole and Bowers could indeed qualify for mid-sentence release. In light of the Harper family’s concerns, the new prime minister expressed empathy, reiterating, “It’s an appalling crime that was committed. The main perpetrator will not be subject to any early release.”
Prison overcrowding has resulted in successive governments resorting to emergency release measures. The Conservative administration’s End of Custody Supervised Licence scheme, launched in 2023, released over 10,000 inmates early, prompting Labour’s subsequent SDS40 scheme that saw over 56,000 offenders released after serving 40 percent of their sentences between September 2024 and December 2025.
These reforms stem from the urgency to address critical prison conditions, which risked a collapse of law and order, as outlined by former justice secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The amendments in the Sentencing Act advocate for standard determinate sentence regulations, where inmates serve only a third of their term in custody, with the remainder under supervision in the community.
Concerns persist regarding the capacity of probation services to handle the projected increase in offenders released into the community. However, reforms have been generally supported by experts advocating for change within the penal system.
This discussion was further complicated by recent remarks from Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who found himself apologising after being recorded joking about the early release scheme—prompting reflections on the seriousness of the topic among cabinet members.
As the government’s policies around justice reform evolve, the emotional and societal implications of these decisions remain significant. The conversation about restoring faith in the justice system continues, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and accountability in policy implementation.
