Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces a coordinated appeal from police chiefs across the United Kingdom to halt the early release of the men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper.
Police leaders demand action
A letter signed by 50 senior police officials, including Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley, Greater Manchester chief constable Stephen Watson and National Crime Agency director general Graeme Biggar, was released on Tuesday night. The signatories urged the prime minister to use every available tool to prevent the scheduled release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, the two offenders due to leave prison in January.
The document stresses that “when the state asks people to run towards danger on behalf of the public, they should be able to trust that the justice system will stand behind them when the worst happens.” It adds that the case of PC Harper raises “a wider question” about public confidence when sentences are altered after conviction.
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Police chiefs from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland warned that a blanket early‑release programme could send the wrong signal to officers who risk their lives daily. “Officers and staff understand that the law must be applied as it stands. But they will question what message this sends about the value placed on their service and sacrifice when they put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” the letter reads.
Government response and proposed changes
Burnham said earlier this week he recognized “the depth of public concern” over the proposed early release of Harper’s killers. He announced a revision to the scheme that would exclude prisoners convicted of the most serious offences, aiming to create new prison places without jeopardising public safety.
In a Facebook post, he outlined three ways to free up space: accelerating the removal of foreign offenders, releasing lower‑risk inmates serving indeterminate sentences, and “making greater use of the entire prison estate, including using the female estate for male offenders.”
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Downing Street previously argued that exempting a small number of prisoners would be impractical, noting the plan was designed to alleviate a broader capacity crisis.
The probation officers’ union Napo voted overwhelmingly to strike over workloads, though the vote is not directly linked to the plan. The union has previously described the proposals as rushed.
