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Story perspectives

Burnham eyes blocking early release of murderers after 880k petition

8/10/2026

26 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will explore to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, Andrew Harper’s killers, from early release.
A petition by Aileen O'Connor has over 880,000 signatures demanding they stay in jail.
The Sentencing Act lets offenders serve half of a 13-year term before release.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris apologized but warned that exempting the two could risk a prison collapse, with plan cutting releases to 5,000 from 6,000.

History

Historical Context

The Criminal Justice Act 1993 introduced automatic release after half a custodial term and created the IPP sentence for over 150 offences. Home Secretary Michael Howard pledged a 10 % reduction in prison numbers, yet a 1995 audit recorded a 12-month sentence cut. Subsequent reforms, such as the 2008 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act, later tightened IPP criteria.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will explore to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, Andrew Harper’s killers, from early release.
A petition by Aileen O'Connor has over 880,000 signatures demanding they stay in jail.
The Sentencing Act lets offenders serve half of a 13-year term before release.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris apologized but warned that exempting the two could risk a prison collapse, with plan cutting releases to 5,000 from 6,000.

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