Prime Minister urges justice minister to block early release of PC Harper's killers

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has directed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to devise a method of excluding Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers from an early-release initiative introduced to reduce prison overcrowding. Both men received 13-year manslaughter sentences for the 2019 killing of PC Andrew Harper, who died after being dragged behind a getaway vehicle in Berkshire. Under this year’s Sentencing Act amendments, they will be eligible for release next January after serving half their terms, joining a category that previously required two-thirds of the sentence.

Officials warn that barring only these two offenders could set a precedent affecting many prisoners convicted of serious violent or sexual crimes. Burnham has been making daily calls while on holiday to seek a solution, and a government spokesperson confirmed the prime minister’s request. Around 5,000 inmates are expected to be released under the new rules, down from 6,000 after earlier exemptions for the most serious offences.