Full Breakdown
Harper’s killers may be released under the government’s early-release scheme – a test for the new prison-capacity plan
8/11/2026, 8:36:02 PM
Core event
Two of the three men convicted of the 2019 manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper – Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, each sentenced to 13 years – are slated to become eligible for release halfway through their terms under the Sentencing Act’s early-release programme. The scheme, designed to free roughly 5,000 prisoners to ease overcrowding in England and Wales, has sparked a nationwide outcry and placed Prime Minister Andy Burnham under pressure to keep the pair behind bars.
Background & context
The Sentencing Act, passed earlier this year, lowered the minimum time many offenders must serve before being considered for early release. For sentences of four years or more involving serious violent or sexual offences, eligibility now begins at the halfway point rather than two-thirds. The government has already exempted offenders convicted of rape, serious child-sex offences and grooming crimes.
Data & statistics
- About 5,000 prisoners are expected to be released early under the new rules, down from an earlier target of 6,000.
- Cole and Bowers would be released in January, halfway through their 13-year sentences; their co-defendant, driver Henry Long, received a 16-year extended determinate sentence and is not eligible for early release.
- A public petition against the release has attracted more than 880,000 signatures.
Official statements & responses
The prime minister has said he is “increasingly confident” that a focused approach can create enough prison headroom to prevent the early release of the most serious offenders, including Harper’s killers. He ordered Justice Secretary Alex Norris to explore options such as accelerating the deportation of foreign-national offenders, resolving indeterminate-sentence cases and repurposing women’s prisons for male inmates.
The Ministry of Justice expressed sympathy for Harper’s family while emphasizing the constraints of the early-release framework.
Criticism & opposition
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, argued that the government could free up space by releasing low-risk remand prisoners or using electronic monitoring, questioning why the current plan does not consider such alternatives.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Burnham of “re-traumatising victims and their families” with policy “U-turns.” Reform UK home-affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said his party would not support the government while the early-release scheme remains on the table, even suggesting the rental of overseas cells as a possible solution.
Conflicting reports & gaps
Early reports from the BBC and The Guardian quoted Downing Street officials stating it was “not possible” to exempt “one or two offenders” convicted of manslaughter. The government has not yet detailed the specific legal mechanism it will use, and the exact timeline for presenting the plan to Parliament remains unclear.
Verbatim quotes
- “I am increasingly confident that a more focused approach … will allow us to reduce the number of people released early and, in the case of the most serious offenders like those convicted of the killing of PC Harper, prevent their early release altogether,” — Andy Burnham
- “I don’t want to see a single prisoner released early,” — The Prime Minister
What’s next
Justice Secretary Norris is expected to draft proposals and present them to Parliament after the summer recess. The plan will reportedly cover faster removal of foreign-national offenders, resolution of indeterminate-sentence cases, and broader use of the prison estate, including repurposing women’s facilities for male inmates. The outcome will determine whether Cole and Bowers remain incarcerated or join the cohort of 5,000 offenders released under the early-release programme.
