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Chief Constables demand safeguards for early-release scheme

8/12/2026

24 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

All 43 chief constables in England and Wales wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham requesting extra safeguards for the prison early-release scheme.
The Daily Telegraph called the letter unprecedented and reported police anger that the killers of PC Andrew Harper could be freed under the scheme.
The Guardian reported that the probation officers’ union Napo warned the scheme could raise the risk of inmates being released by mistake.

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Story summary

All 43 chief constables in England and Wales wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham requesting extra safeguards for the prison early-release scheme.
The Daily Telegraph called the letter unprecedented and reported police anger that the killers of PC Andrew Harper could be freed under the scheme.
The Guardian reported that the probation officers’ union Napo warned the scheme could raise the risk of inmates being released by mistake.