PC Harper killers could stay in prison as Andy Burnham reveals new plan to stop early release
PC Andrew and Lissie Harper. CREDIT: Martis Media
The potential early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers has taken a fresh turn after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is increasingly confident the government can create enough prison space to prevent the two men from being released early.
Burnham’s latest position comes after days of conflicting messages from the government over whether it was possible to exclude Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter over Harper’s death.
The issue has triggered strong criticism from Harper’s family, police representatives and opposition politicians, while raising wider questions about the pressure on prisons across England and Wales.
Andy Burnham Says More Can Be Done to Stop PC Harper Killers’ Release
Burnham said he had not accepted that it was impossible to take further action to prevent the early release of Harper’s killers.
The prime minister said he understood the public concern surrounding the case and recognised the anguish experienced by Harper’s family and other victims whose attackers could potentially benefit from earlier release arrangements.
He has instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to fast-track work aimed at creating additional capacity within the prison system.
Burnham said he was now “increasingly confident” that a more focused approach could reduce the number of prisoners released early and, in the case of the most serious offenders such as those convicted over Harper’s killing, prevent their early release altogether.
When Could PC Harper’s Killers Be Released?
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter in 2020.
Under changes to prisoner-release rules, the pair are currently expected to become eligible for release in January 2027, after serving half of their sentences.
The two men are among prisoners affected by changes designed to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons in England and Wales.
Their potential release has become a major focus of the wider political debate over the government’s early-release policy.
Why Are PC Harper’s Killers Eligible for Early Release?
The potential release is linked to changes made to the rules governing the management and release of prisoners.
The government has been attempting to tackle severe overcrowding in prisons by allowing certain prisoners to leave custody earlier than previously expected.
Under the revised arrangements, some offenders who would previously have been required to serve a greater proportion of their sentence in prison could become eligible for earlier release.
The policy has faced criticism because of concerns that offenders convicted of serious crimes could also benefit.
The government has already moved to exclude prisoners convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming offences from the revised scheme, while murderers remain exempt.
Government Looks at Ways to Create More Prison Space
Burnham has asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to examine several measures that could create additional capacity in the prison estate.
One proposal involves increasing the rate at which foreign national offenders are removed from prisons and returned to their countries of origin.
The government is also looking at resolving outstanding cases involving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. These sentences were abolished for new cases in 2012 but continue to affect prisoners sentenced under the former system.
Another proposal is to make greater use of the existing prison estate, including potentially using parts of the female prison estate to accommodate male prisoners.
The government believes these measures could create additional space and reduce the pressure that has driven the early-release policy.
PC Harper’s Mother Says She Is in “Turmoil”
The latest developments have left Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, facing conflicting reports over whether her son’s killers will remain behind bars.
Adlam told the BBC that she had become increasingly angry and was in turmoil after receiving different messages about the government’s position.
She said she had been contacted by Downing Street and told that the prime minister now had greater hope of finding a way to keep the two men in prison.
However, Adlam said she was reluctant to become too hopeful because of previous developments.
She has repeatedly argued that she is not asking for special treatment because of her son’s case, but wants the men to serve the sentences they were given.
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What Is Harper’s Law?
The case has also renewed attention on Harper’s Law, which was introduced following a campaign led by PC Harper’s widow, Lissie.
The law provides for mandatory life sentences for people convicted of killing emergency services workers in circumstances covered by the legislation.
It also increased the maximum penalty for assaulting police officers and other emergency workers.
However, Harper’s Law does not apply retrospectively. PC Harper was killed in 2019, while the legislation came into force in 2022.
His killers were therefore sentenced under the law that applied at the time of their offences and convictions.
Why Are Prisons in England and Wales Overcrowded?
The dispute over PC Harper’s killers is part of a much larger prison-capacity problem.
An independent review cited by the BBC identified several factors behind overcrowding, including the increased use of custodial sentences, longer prison terms and a decline in the use of community sentences.
The average custodial sentence for indictable offences increased from 16 months in 1993 to 22.5 months by June 2024.
There has also been a significant increase in recalls to prison. According to figures cited by the BBC, there were 51,419 licence recalls in the year ending March 2026, compared with 40,259 in the previous year.
The figures highlight the pressure facing the prison estate and explain why ministers have been looking for ways to create additional capacity.
Government Faces Pressure Over Early Release Policy
The government’s handling of the PC Harper case has become an important political test for Burnham.
Earlier statements from Downing Street suggested that it was not possible to exempt one or two manslaughter offenders from the early-release arrangements.
The Ministry of Justice had also warned that excluding more prisoners could push prisons towards capacity and create further problems.
Burnham’s latest comments signal a shift in the government’s approach, with the prime minister now saying that he has not accepted that nothing more can be done.
The change has prompted questions about the government’s communication of the policy and its ability to balance prison capacity with public safety and victims’ concerns.
Opposition Demands Action on PC Harper Killers
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised the government’s handling of the case and called on Burnham to act.
Badenoch argued that Harper’s family had already suffered enough and said delays over the early-release decision were adding to their distress.
Meanwhile, Aileen O’Connor, chairwoman of the Thames Valley Police Federation, said she was more optimistic following the government’s latest position.
A petition opposing the potential early release of Harper’s killers has attracted more than 900,000 signatures, according to O’Connor.
What Happens Next?
The government is expected to develop proposals aimed at creating additional prison capacity, with the Justice Secretary due to bring a plan to Parliament in September.
Burnham has also said the government will seek discussions with other political parties in an attempt to secure broader public and political support.
The key question is whether ministers can create enough additional prison space to prevent the early release of PC Harper’s killers while continuing to manage the wider overcrowding crisis.
For Harper’s family, the outcome could determine whether the two men convicted over his death remain in custody beyond their current expected eligibility date in January 2027.
FAQ
Who was PC Andrew Harper?
PC Andrew Harper was a Thames Valley Police officer who died in August 2019 while responding to a reported quad bike theft in Berkshire. He was 28 years old.
Harper was dragged behind a vehicle during the incident involving three teenagers who had fled the scene. His death later led to a major campaign for stronger protections for emergency workers.
Who are PC Harper’s killers?
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were among those convicted in connection with PC Andrew Harper’s death. Both were sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter in 2020.
The case has returned to the spotlight because changes to England and Wales’ prisoner-release rules could make the pair eligible for release earlier than originally expected.
Are PC Harper’s killers being released early?
Under the revised early-release arrangements described in the reports, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers are currently due to become eligible for release in January 2027, after serving half of their 13-year sentences.
However, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the government is working on measures that could prevent their early release.
Their eventual release date is therefore subject to the government’s policy decisions and the operation of the relevant prison-release rules.
Why could PC Harper’s killers be released early?
The potential release is linked to changes to prisoner-release rules introduced to tackle severe prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
The government has been expanding the use of earlier release for certain prisoners to create additional capacity within the prison estate.
Cole and Bowers fall into a category affected by the changes, despite their conviction for manslaughter.
What has Andy Burnham said about PC Harper’s killers?
Burnham has said he is “increasingly confident” that the government can reduce early releases and potentially prevent the most serious offenders, including those convicted over Harper’s killing, from being released early.
He has asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to fast-track proposals designed to create additional space within prisons.
How could the government stop PC Harper’s killers from being released early?
The government is examining several options to create more prison capacity.
These include increasing the removal of foreign national offenders to their countries of origin, finding a resolution for people serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences and making greater use of the entire prison estate.
The government has also discussed using parts of the female prison estate to accommodate male offenders.
What is Harper’s Law?
Harper’s Law was introduced following the campaign led by PC Harper’s widow, Lissie.
The law provides for a mandatory life sentence for people convicted of killing emergency services workers in certain circumstances. It also increased the maximum penalty for assaulting police officers and other emergency workers.
Does Harper’s Law apply to PC Harper’s killers?
No. Harper’s Law was introduced in 2022, three years after PC Harper died and after his killers’ convictions and sentencing.
The law does not apply retrospectively, meaning it could not be used to change the sentences imposed on those convicted over Harper’s death.
Why are UK prisons overcrowded?
Several factors have contributed to prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
These include longer custodial sentences, increased use of imprisonment, fewer community sentences and a rise in the number of prisoners being recalled to custody.
The BBC report cited an independent review which found that the average custodial sentence for indictable offences had increased from 16 months in 1993 to 22.5 months by June 2024.
How many prisoners are affected by the early-release changes?
The government’s revised scheme was expected to affect thousands of prisoners at different stages.
The BBC reported that around 6,000 criminals were originally due to be released under the scheme, which was initially scheduled to begin in September before being revised to start in October.
Which offenders are excluded from the early-release scheme?
The government has already announced exclusions for certain serious offences.
According to the BBC report, prisoners convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming offences will be excluded under the revised arrangements. Murderers are also already exempt.
The precise eligibility rules depend on the offence, sentence and applicable legislation.
What are IPP sentences?
Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences were introduced in England and Wales for offenders considered dangerous but whose offences did not warrant a life sentence.
The sentence was abolished for new cases in 2012, but thousands of people remained affected by the system.
Burnham’s government is examining whether resolving some outstanding IPP cases could help release lower-risk prisoners and create additional prison capacity.
When could PC Harper’s killers be released?
Based on the current rules described by the BBC, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could become eligible for release in January 2027.
That position could change if the government successfully introduces measures preventing their early release.
What did PC Harper’s mother say?
PC Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, said she had experienced considerable anguish over conflicting reports about whether her son’s killers would be released early.
She said she was hopeful about the government’s latest efforts but remained cautious because of previous developments.
Adlam has stressed that she is not seeking special treatment for her son and wants the offenders to serve the sentences they were originally given.
What happens next in the PC Harper case?
The government is expected to develop a plan aimed at creating additional prison capacity and reducing the number of prisoners released early.
Burnham said the Justice Secretary will present proposals to Parliament in September. The government also intends to engage other political parties as it seeks wider political and public support.
The central question will be whether ministers can create enough prison capacity to prevent the early release of PC Harper’s killers while avoiding a wider prison-capacity crisis.