Mother of PC Harper criticises early release eligibility for son's killers

The UK government has confirmed changes to its early release programme aimed at tackling prison overcrowding, following pressure from victims, MPs and prison staff. Under the revised scheme, rapists, child sexual abusers and groomers will no longer be eligible for early release in England and Wales. However, domestic abusers and those convicted of manslaughter or murder will still be considered, including two men jailed over the death of PC Andrew Harper.

PC Harper suffered fatal injuries in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. His mother, Debbie Adlam, told the BBC she was "bitterly disappointed" that his killers remain eligible. She acknowledged that it was "completely right" for sex offenders to be excluded but said they should never have been considered in the first place.

PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, described the prospect of the two men's release as "an affront to justice" and "an utter betrayal". The Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, apologised to the family, explaining that without the changes prisons would run out of space by October or November. He noted that the two men were convicted of manslaughter and that the system cannot make individual exceptions simply by looking at each case.

Under the new plans, some prisoners serving sentences for certain violent or sexual offences will become eligible for release at the halfway point of their term instead of two-thirds, provided they have not committed serious rule breaches. This will apply to Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were each jailed for 13 years in 2020 for manslaughter in connection with PC Harper's death. The main perpetrator, Henry Long, will not be released early.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he had asked the Justice Secretary to consider expanding early release for female prisoners due to their generally lower risk, but stressed he had pushed "to the very limits of what is possible" without risking the collapse of the prison system. Burnham also announced a one-month delay to the planned releases, pushing them to October.

The Prison Governors' Association warned that the late changes place "extreme pressure" on staff, who will have to recalculate sentences and identify excluded prisoners. The union said it is unclear whether the number affected will be tens, hundreds or thousands, making mistakes more likely. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said excluding partner abusers from the scheme was "wrong" and "puts victims' lives at risk".