Full Breakdown
Andy Burnburn’s push to block the early release of PC Harper’s killers
8/12/2026, 12:27:56 AM
Core Event
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered Justice Secretary Alex Norris to devise a way to keep the two men convicted of the 2019 manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper—Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers—in prison beyond the early-release date scheduled for January 2027. The request comes amid a national early-release scheme introduced by the Sentencing Act to ease overcrowding in England and Wales prisons.
Background & Context
PC Harper was dragged to his death in 2019 while police pursued three teenagers who had stolen a quad-bike. The three offenders received a 16-year term (driver Henry Long) and two 13-year manslaughter terms (Cole and Bowers). Under the Sentencing Act, prisoners serving sentences longer than four years may be released after serving half their term, reducing the number of inmates slated for early release from 6,000 to 5,000.
The government has already exempted rapists and serious child-sex offenders, but manslaughter convictions were not singled out.
Timeline
| Date (general) | Event |
|---|---|
| Early August 2026 | Burnham becomes Prime Minister and orders a review of the early-release scheme. |
| 2026 (earlier) | Parliament passes the Sentencing Act, creating the early-release framework. |
| January 2027 | Scheduled release of Cole and Bowers under the scheme. |
| October 2026 | Planned start of the early-release programme for about 5,000 prisoners. |
| September 2026 | Burnham says the government will present a detailed plan to Parliament after the summer recess. |
| July 31 2026 | Poll of 1,200 adults finds cost-of-living measures a top priority for Burnham’s government. |
| Ongoing | Public petition against the release gathers ? 900,000 signatures. |
Data & Statistics
- 97 % of prison places occupied (MoJ).
- 5,000 prisoners slated for early release over ten months (Guardian).
- 1,015 prisoners serving manslaughter sentences.
- ? 2,200 inmates still on IPP sentences (Guardian).
Official Statements & Responses
Burnham instructed Norris to explore three capacity-boosting options: faster deportation of foreign offenders, repurposing women’s prisons for male inmates, and reviewing lower-risk IPP cases.
The Ministry of Justice warned that rapid changes risk “unlawful detention” and “releases in error” because sentence calculations must be redone while many staff are on holiday.
On-the-Ground Reports
Debbie Adlam, Harper’s mother, told BBC Breakfast she has been “in turmoil” over conflicting reports and that a recent Downing Street call gave her “a little bit of hope” but also felt like “a hash” and a “rush job.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Deportations – Tom Wheatley notes reciprocal agreements take time, limiting immediate impact.
- Repurposing women’s prisons – Wheatley stresses security standards may not meet male-prison requirements; the government cites HMP Bronzefield as a potential solution.
- IPP review – The Ministry acknowledges the complexity of resentencing thousands of inmates, a step Burnham cites as a longer-term fix.
