Justice Secretary Alex Norris has issued an apology to the family of a 28-year-old police constable, following the confirmation that his murderers will be eligible for early release from prison. PC Andrew Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, expressed her deep disappointment upon learning that manslaughter charges would not be exempt from the proposed sentencing reforms.
The announcement made by Andy Burnham on Monday outlined the exclusion of rape, serious child sexual offenses, and grooming from the exemption list. Burnham, who halted the plans during his first week in office, acknowledged the need to prevent more offenders from early release, emphasizing the strain on the prison system due to neglect by the Tories.
Norris and Burnham both expressed frustration at being compelled to implement these measures to maintain a functional prison system. They highlighted that without these changes, prisons would reach full capacity by autumn, leading to the inability to accommodate new criminals.
The revision to the early release scheme will result in the release of 5,000 prisoners over 10 months, a reduction from the initial projection of 6,000. When asked about Norris’s apology, Adlam acknowledged his remorse but stressed the need to explore alternative solutions beyond the swift decision-making process.
Adlam voiced her disappointment, stating that she and her family should not be in this position and deserve more support. She expressed resentment towards the consequences of prison overcrowding, asserting that families like hers are bearing the brunt of the situation.
PC Harper tragically lost his life while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for early release. On the other hand, passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter, will become eligible for release after serving half of their sentences.
Burnham has tasked Norris with exploring alternative methods to create more prison space, including converting women’s prisons to accommodate male inmates and expediting the deportation of foreign national offenders. The Sentencing Act, enacted earlier this year, allows for the release of prisoners serving time for violent or sexual offenses halfway through their sentences, instead of the current two-thirds requirement.
Burnham emphasized his efforts to address concerns raised by victims and reiterated the exclusion of serious offenses from the early release scheme. He assured the public that offenders released early will be closely monitored through various measures, including curfews and electronic tracking.
Despite these assurances, the probation union Napo raised concerns about the increased workload for staff managing offenders’ releases. Napo’s General Secretary, Ian Lawrence, emphasized the critical role of probation services in the discussion on prison reforms, highlighting the need for greater attention and support for probation services.