The killers of police officer Andrew Harper are expected to be released early under Labour’s scheme.
Kemi Badenoch hit out at the early release scheme. (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham was accused of subjecting the victims of horrific crimes to “weeks of uncertainty and fear” as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch slammed his “partial climbdown” over the early release of prisoners. She issued a furious statement after it emerged that violent killers will still be freed early.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday that rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming would be excluded from the scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding. But the mother of PC Andrew Harper says her family is “paying the price” after learning her son’s killers remain eligible for early release under the Government’s planned sentencing changes.
The 28-year-old police officer sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019.
And the Government’s latest proposals have sparked criticism after it emerged two of Pc Harper’s killers would still qualify for early release.
Mrs Badenoch said: “Andy Burnham wants a round of applause for agreeing not to release rapists and child sex offenders. He’s not getting one.
“This is only a partial climbdown. Killers, violent offenders, men who have terrorised their partners and more will all still walk out of prison in October thanks to Labour’s early release scheme.
“Yet again victims are learning their fate from press releases.
“Conservatives have a better plan. Build, rent, remove. Build more prisons. Rent prison spaces abroad. Remove foreign criminals.
“The victims of these horrific crimes have suffered weeks of uncertainty and fear. They deserve so much better.”
PC Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, spoke of her pain in an interview with BBC Newsnight. She said: “It feels like we’re letting Andrew down again. We’ve been through the justice system, we thought we’d done as best as we could.
“Now we’re standing up to fight again with this evening’s announcement, so I just feel really let down, for Andrew’s sake as well as ours.”
Pc Harper died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary.
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not have been eligible for the Government’s scheme.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020, would become eligible for release after serving half of their sentences.
Ms Adlam confirmed Justice Secretary Alex Norris had called her to explain the situation.
“Apparently, the situation is, if nothing was done, then the prison system would fall completely,” she said.
“But we’re paying the price for it. It’s Andrew and his family, and many others like us, we’re paying the price.”
Ms Adlam added she would continue fighting for justice, saying she “could not sit back and do nothing”.
Asked if she accepted Mr Norris’s apology, Ms Adlam said: “I do know that he was sorry, but there surely has to be other answers, other ways to look at and other things to explore. This decision was made very quickly.”
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “I am beyond disappointed the Government is continuing to allow PC Andrew Harper’s killers to be released early from prison despite the overwhelming recent public outcry.
“It is simple: if Andrew’s killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name. They would not be eligible for early release.
“This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, not just in the Thames Valley, that puts themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve their community.”
Mr Burnham paused plans to release prisoners early in September to ease jail overcrowding as part of the Sentencing Act.
The scheme will now be delayed until October.
The Prime Minister assured the public that offenders will face tighter community supervision, including new GPS monitoring for rapists to restrict their movements.
Mr Burnham said he “wanted to go even further”, but that was not possible without the prison system collapsing and putting the public “at much greater risk”.
Announcing the changes, the Prime Minister said: “We will also be introducing much tougher community measures.
“There will be a presumption that all offenders are tagged, longer periods of supervision and tough new rules, including restriction zones for offenders.”
Earlier, PC Harper’s widow, Lissie Harper, said releasing killers early would be “an affront to justice” and “an utter betrayal”.
She added: “The level of disrespect the Government are showing to Andrew and other victims – and to their loved ones such as me – is beyond contempt.”