PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain behind bars after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that anyone convicted of unlawful killing will be excluded from an early release scheme intended to ease prison overcrowding.
Key facts
- PC Andrew Harper's killers will be excluded from the early release scheme.
- Anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will be exempt.
- Burnham said 'hundreds' of people will remain in prison as a result of the changes.
- Two of the officer's killers would have been eligible for early release under the original plans.
- The scheme was designed to ease overcrowding in prisons.
PC Andrew Harper’s killers will remain in jail after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced changes to an early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding, according to the Guardian.
Burnham said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, would be excluded from the scheme. Under the original plans, two of the officer’s killers would have been eligible for early release.
The prime minister said he understood “how strongly people feel about this issue” as he set out the revised approach, the Guardian reported.
Burnham said “hundreds” of people will remain in prison as part of the changes to the scheme, which had been designed to reduce pressure on an overcrowded prison system.
The announcement follows an earlier decision by Burnham to order a review of plans for the early release of thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders from prison in September, according to the Guardian.
The changes narrow the pool of prisoners who would qualify for early release, with the exemption for unlawful killing convictions ensuring those responsible for PC Harper’s death stay behind bars.
Why it matters
The decision affects how the government balances the need to ease prison overcrowding against public concern over releasing serious offenders. By excluding all unlawful killing convictions, the change keeps hundreds of prisoners in jail who would otherwise have been eligible for early release.
Frequently asked questions
Who is excluded from the early release scheme?
According to the Guardian, anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will be excluded from the scheme.
Why was the early release scheme created?
The scheme was designed to ease overcrowding in prisons, the Guardian reported.
How many people are affected by the changes?
Burnham said 'hundreds' of people will remain in prison as part of the changes to the scheme.