Following public outcry, the Prime Minister has pledged to review the government's early prisoner release scheme after two perpetrators in the killing of police officer Andrew Harper became eligible for automatic release. The scheme, which aims to relieve pressure on an overcrowded prison system, would allow approximately 6,000 inmates to exit after serving half their sentences. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were 17 when convicted of manslaughter in connection with Harper's 2019 death, could qualify for release after around 6.5 years, whilst the primary perpetrator remains ineligible. Harper's mother has publicly objected to the prospect, characterising it as insulting to her son's memory.

The government framed the policy as necessary given decades of underinvestment in prison infrastructure. The Prime Minister, speaking alongside Justice Secretary Alex Norris, committed to examining every aspect of the scheme before its September implementation but stopped short of promising substantial changes. The announcement comes as several other new government policies face review, reflecting broader questions about how to balance criminal justice principles with operational capacity constraints.