- PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam said she is "devastated" that his killers remain eligible for early release. PC Andrew Harper, 28, was killed in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft.
- The government said the changes will not apply to people guilty of rape, serious child sex and other grooming offences, but people guilty of manslaughter will still be eligible for earlier release.
- PC Harper's family previously said they received a Ministry of Justice letter confirming that two of the killers could be included in the scheme, becoming eligible for release after serving half of their 13 year sentences; the killers, found guilty of manslaughter, will still be eligible for early release next year.
- Justice Secretary Alex Norris called Adlam to apologise that her son's killers will still be eligible for early release, saying "it is right these sickening crimes are excluded from these reforms".
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the changes only a "partial climbdown" and said "killers, violent offenders, men who have terrorised their partners and more will all still walk out of prison in October" under Labour’s early release scheme.
- Under the early release policy, due to begin in October, some prisoners in England and Wales who would have been freed after 50% of their sentences will be released after 33%; others who would have served 66% will be released after 50%.
- Debbie Adlam said it "feels like we're letting Andrew down again" and that if nothing was done, the prison system would fall completely, but "we're paying the price for it".
- Badenoch said the Conservatives have a "better plan" to tackle prison overcrowding, including building more prisons, renting prison spaces from abroad and removing foreign criminals.
Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, who was tragically killed in 2019, is heartbroken that her son's killers will still be eligible for early release under revised government policies. Despite changes aimed at excluding serious offenders, those convicted of manslaughter, like Harper's killers, remain eligible.1234567
Adlam expressed her devastation, stating, "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." The two men convicted of manslaughter could be released after serving half of their 13-year sentences, as confirmed by a letter from the Ministry of Justice.
The government announced that under the new policy, which begins in October, some offenders in England and Wales will be released earlier than previously mandated. Those who would have served 50% of their sentences will now be eligible for release after just 33%, while others serving 66% will be released after 50%. However, the changes do not apply to serious crimes such as rape and child sex offences.1213
Justice Secretary Alex Norris reached out to Adlam to apologize, explaining that the prison system would face severe overcrowding if no changes were made. Adlam, however, feels that victims like her son are paying the price for these reforms. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government's approach, calling it a "partial climbdown" and asserting that victims deserve better treatment.891011
“The revised early-release scheme, due in October, excludes rape, serious child sex and other grooming offences, but manslaughter — the conviction PC Harper's killers received — still qualifies. Justice Secretary Alex Norris phoned Adlam to apologise, while Kemi Badenoch called the changes only a 'partial climbdown'.”
BBC
