Fifty police chiefs sign a letter urging the PM to use every lawful option to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers under the government’s early-release scheme.
Fifty Police Chiefs Urge Burnham to Block PC Harper Killers’ Early Release
All fifty chief constables from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed an open letter (released Tuesday evening) pressing Prime Minister Andy Burnham to pursue “every legal option” to stop Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers — jailed for 13 years in 2020 for the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper, who was dragged to death behind a getaway car in 2019 — from being freed in January under Sentencing Act changes that make them eligible after half their term.
The chiefs also demand victims and bereaved families be properly considered whenever sentences are altered, and that public protection be central to release decisions. Burnham has already pledged to do “everything in his power” to prevent the release. Around 5,000 people are expected to be released under the scheme this year. PC Harper’s mother told the BBC a No 10 call “gave her hope” but she “can’t afford to be too hopeful”.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyrkz9ryr5o
Why it matters: A rare, united intervention from every chief constable makes this a genuine pressure point on the government’s overcrowding-driven sentencing policy — the kind of crime/policing policy story worth watching, not just a single case.
What about other release cases? This is just about one group lobbying for one case. I’m concerned about a country going broke and breaking on its social contract with the people. If this persists then the people (including me) could well migrate and “opt out”