Key facts
- The UK government reversed an early release scheme for prisoners convicted of manslaughter, rape, child sexual abuse, and grooming.
- The intervention prevents the early release of approximately 1,400 inmates, including the killers of PC Andrew Harper.
- The decision was welcomed by victims' groups and policing families but criticized by reform advocates.
- Critics warn the move could destabilize an already overcrowded prison system operating at 98% capacity.
- Alternative measures to create space, like deporting foreign nationals and releasing IPP prisoners, are expected to be slow.
The UK government has executed a significant U-turn on a controversial early release scheme, preventing the release of prisoners convicted of serious offenses including manslaughter, rape, and child sexual abuse. This decision was directly influenced by the eligibility of the killers of PC Andrew Harper for early release, a prospect that caused widespread public outcry and intense pressure on the government.
Justice Secretary Andy Burnham announced the intervention, stating he understood the public's strong feelings. The move means that approximately 1,400 prisoners will no longer be eligible for early release under the scheme, which was set to begin imminently. PC Harper's killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were 17 at the time of the offense in 2019 and jailed for 13 years for manslaughter, would have been among those released.
The decision has been welcomed by policing families and victims' groups, including PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, who expressed relief but also described the campaigning as traumatic. Thames Valley Police, Harper's former force, stated the news would be welcomed by many in policing and the community.
However, critics argue that this last-minute change undermines progressive prison reforms and risks destabilizing an already critically overcrowded prison system. Prisons in England and Wales are reportedly operating at 98% capacity. The government's proposed alternative measures to create space, such as deporting foreign national offenders and releasing prisoners serving indefinite sentences (IPPs), are expected to be slow and complex, potentially freeing up fewer than the 6,000 initially anticipated.
Prison reform advocates warn that the current situation leaves the prison estate "one major incident away from a disaster." Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, highlighted that a serious riot or disturbance could overwhelm the system, leaving the government with little room to maneuver. Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, noted that full prisons become "warehouses" where rehabilitation efforts suffer and self-harm increases. The reforms introduced after a review led by former justice secretary David Gauke, aimed at improving rehabilitation and freeing up space, are now seen as potentially undermined by this reversal.