Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused a controversial scheme that would have released thousands of prisoners early across England and Wales from September. The sudden halt follows fierce backlash from victims’ families, including the widow of PC Andrew Harper, over the potential early release of violent offenders.
The government’s planned changes to the Sentencing Act, originally designed to alleviate severe prison overcrowding, are now on hold while officials conduct an urgent review. Under the now-paused policy, approximately 6,000 offenders would have become eligible for earlier release after serving a third or half of their sentences rather than standard longer portions, depending on the offense category.
The Backlash Over PC Andrew Harper’s Killers and Public Safety
Public and political pressure mounted swiftly after it emerged that the early release scheme would apply to individuals convicted in high-profile homicide cases. Among them were Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who served as passengers in the vehicle that dragged 28-year-old police constable Andrew Harper to his death during a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019.
Convicted of manslaughter after a 2020 trial at the Old Bailey, Cole and Bowers were each sentenced to 13 years in prison. Under the Sentencing Act parameters due in September, both men would have become eligible for release after serving half of their sentences rather than the usual two-thirds. Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle, received a 16-year sentence and was not eligible for the scheme.
“It has taken me years to rebuild a life that was torn apart in a matter of moments. Years to pick up the pieces left behind by three men whose actions robbed Andrew of his life and stole our future. Now – once again – politicians are making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences for victims’ families like mine. It is deplorable to me that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable.”
Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper, via Metro
The officer’s mother, Debbie Adlam, also condemned the prospect, telling the BBC that the potential release felt like another letdown
for her son and noting that families must live permanently with the horrific reality of such crimes.
Government Response and the Urgent Review
Following widespread condemnation from victims, survivors, and opposition parties, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the intervention. The administration confirmed that thousands of notification letters recently dispatched to victims warning of September releases must now be re-evaluated alongside the broader operational framework.
“Keeping the public safe will always be my top priority. I am working closely with the new Justice Secretary and have instructed my team to put a pause on the changes that were due to start in September. No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public. Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, via The Irish News
Newly appointed Justice Secretary Alex Norris acknowledged that the pause aims to grant victims and survivors greater certainty while ensuring robust implementation. Norris stated that the government and the prime minister listened directly to concerns voiced nationwide. He defended the decision while noting that the review will specifically scrutinize how information is communicated to victims and their families throughout the release process.
Relief Among Campaigners and Ongoing Capacity Pressures
The suspension drew praise from advocacy groups and survivor networks who had flagged profound safety risks associated with the accelerated release timeline. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs welcomed the move, emphasizing that dangerous abusers could otherwise have entered communities without adequate monitoring or protections for survivors.
Jade Belgrove, a sexual assault survivor who campaigned against the policy, told BBC News that receiving official notice of her attacker’s potential early release was horrific enough to make her question reporting the crime initially. While the emergency brake halts the immediate September releases, Downing Street faces an unresolved penal capacity crisis that forced the legislation in the first place, leaving ministers under pressure to balance public safety against surging inmate populations.
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