PC Andrew Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, says she is "devastated" that two of the men convicted over his 2019 death could still qualify for early release under the government's revised prison plan. The government will now exclude rape, grooming and serious child sexual offences from the scheme and is providing an extra £10 million for victim support. Changes will be phased in from October, with longer-term prisoners potentially eligible at the halfway point and many released offenders subject to tagging and extended supervision.
PC Andrew Harper’s Mother ‘Devastated’ as Two Killers Could Qualify For Early Release Under Revised Prison Plan
PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road [PA Media]
The mother of PC Andrew Harper has told the BBC she is "devastated" that two of the men convicted over her son's death could still be eligible for early release after the government revised plans intended to ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
The government announced on Monday that prisoners convicted of rape, grooming and serious child sexual offences will be excluded from the new early-release scheme. The move is part of wider changes intended to relieve pressure on prisons while extending supervision and electronic monitoring for many released prisoners.
Family Reaction
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Andrew Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, 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... so I just feel really let down, for Andrew's sake as well as ours." She said the family had received a letter from the Ministry of Justice indicating two of the offenders involved in Harper's death could be included in the scheme.
His widow, Lissie Harper, described the prospect as "disgusting" and said she was "beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear that Andrew's killers are soon to be free to roam the streets." Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg called the decision "demoralising for all police officers." Justice Secretary Alex Norris phoned Adlam to explain the decision and offered an apology, the family said.
Who Would Be Affected In The Harper Case
Of the three men convicted in connection with PC Harper's death in 2019, the driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not be eligible under the revised scheme. Two passengers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in 2020 and given 13-year terms; under the new rules they could become eligible for release after serving half of those sentences.
The Revised Scheme
The Sentencing Act was amended in January so that eligibility for early release is determined by the length of a fixed-term sentence rather than the category of offence. Under the government's revised approach, prisoners serving longer sentences of four years or more would become eligible to be released at the halfway point of their sentence (instead of after two-thirds), and those serving shorter terms could be released after a third of their sentence rather than half.
Burnham said he "wanted to go even further" with the changes to the scheme, but that wasn't possible without the prison system collapsing [PA Media]
The changes will be phased in from October, starting with prisoners serving under 575 days and extending up the scale, with those jailed for 12 years or more becoming eligible for some form of early release by June 2027, the government says. Ministers also plan a presumption that released prisoners will be electronically tagged and placed under longer periods of supervision with tougher conditions, including designated "restriction zones." The number released at each stage will depend on the evolving composition of the prison population.
Victim Support And Additional Measures
The government announced an additional £10 million for front-line victim support services, including a new national helpline. It also said that those convicted of rape or serious child sexual offences who serve their full sentences will face stronger post-release surveillance — including 12 months of GPS monitoring and strengthened community supervision.
Political And Professional Reactions
Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged the public's anger, saying he "wanted to go even further" in narrowing eligibility but argued that doing so now could risk the prison system collapsing and place the public at greater risk. He had paused the plans last month after backlash from survivors; the scheme is due to restart in October.
Critics said the measures do not go far enough. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy called the move a "U-turn" that still leaves some dangerous offenders eligible for early release. Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman warned that exclusions alone cannot guarantee safety for all victims, and Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs expressed concern that domestic abuse perpetrators were not explicitly excluded.
Prison and probation staff warned of capacity and operational pressures; one prison officer told the BBC the estate was "creaking at the seams," and a probation officer questioned how probation services will manage earlier release volumes in practice.
The government's revised timetable and scope of exclusions will determine which prisoners are ultimately affected as the scheme is rolled out over the coming months and years.
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