Burnham 'confident' early release of PC Harper's killers can be halted
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing pressure to block the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers from prison. The government is attempting to balance prison capacity issues with public outcry regarding the sentencing of high-profile offenders.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between managing severe prison overcrowding and maintaining public trust in the justice system.
Image source, PA Media By Joshua Nevett Political reporter Published 11 August 2026, 13:05 BST Updated 26 minutes ago Andy Burnham says he is "confident" PC Andrew Harper's killers can be excluded from the government's early release scheme, as outcry over the case grows.
The prime minister has now ordered the justice secretary to find a way to bar Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were jailed for 13 years for manslaughter in 2020, from early release.
It marks a shift from last week, when he said there was "nothing more" he could do without risking the collapse of the prison system.
The move comes after days of pressure to exclude Harper's killers from the scheme, which is aiming to free about 5,000 offenders in England and Wales to make space in overcrowded jails.
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