Burnham under fire as PC Harper killers' early release sparks fury

Burnham under fire as PC Harper killers' early release sparks fury

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing mounting pressure to rethink Labour's controversial early prison release scheme after the widow of murdered police officer PC Andrew Harper condemned plans to free two of her husband's killers.

Lissie Harper described the policy as "deplorable" and warned politicians were making decisions "from behind a desk" that would have devastating consequences for victims' families.

Her intervention has triggered an urgent review of the flagship justice policy, with reports that prison governors have been instructed to pause preparations while officials reassess the scheme.

Widow says justice is being undermined

Mrs Harper, who successfully campaigned for Harper's Law after her husband's death, said the proposal made a mockery of sentences handed down by the courts.

In a powerful statement, she said victims deserved certainty that offenders would serve the punishment imposed by judges.

"We speak of justice, accountability and standing with victims, yet decisions like this do the opposite," she said.

"They tell victims their suffering matters less, and offenders that the punishment handed down by our courts is no longer what they will actually serve."

She added that justice should never become "something that can be negotiated away when it becomes inconvenient."

Brutal killing shocked Britain

PC Andrew Harper, 28, was killed in August 2019 while responding to the theft of a quad bike near Sulhamstead in Berkshire.

He became caught in a towing strap attached to the thieves' getaway vehicle and was dragged for more than a mile along country lanes at high speed.

The officer had volunteered to answer one final emergency call before leaving to begin his honeymoon with his wife, having been married for only four weeks.

The horrific nature of his death prompted nationwide outrage and eventually led to Harper's Law, introducing mandatory life sentences for those who kill emergency workers in the line of duty.

Killers could walk free early

Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 17 at the time of the killing, were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and sentenced to 13 years' detention.

The driver, Henry Long, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years and is not eligible for early release.

Under Labour's Sentencing Act, however, Cole and Bowers could now be released after serving only half of their sentences rather than the previous two-thirds.

They are among around 6,000 violent and sexual offenders expected to benefit from the changes, although convicted murderers remain excluded.

Ministers and police join backlash

The proposal has drawn fierce criticism from across the political spectrum.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel called the planned release "outrageous", while former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland warned it would be "an insult" to PC Harper's memory.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the scheme as "an utter insult to the victims and any decent people that may be endangered by criminals walking their streets."

Senior policing figures also voiced concern. Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said the prospect of the offenders' early release "feels wrong" and confirmed he had written directly to the Prime Minister.

Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman questioned whether public safety and victims' rights could be adequately protected under the new arrangements.

Burnham orders review

Political pressure intensified after Cabinet ministers were criticised for appearing to joke about the prisoner release programme shortly before news emerged that PC Harper's killers could benefit.

Responding to the growing backlash, Burnham confirmed he had spoken with Justice Secretary Alex Norris and announced that the policy would now be formally reviewed.

Whether Labour presses ahead with one of its flagship prison reforms may now depend on the outcome of that review, as public anger continues to build over the prospect of violent offenders leaving prison significantly earlier than originally expected.

SOURCE