# Burnham puts Labour’s early prisoner release scheme on hold

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/burnham-puts-labours-early-prisoner-release-scheme-on-hold/
- Published: 2026-07-23T15:48:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-23T23:22:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/burnham-prisoner-release-scheme-prisons-harper-b3020305.html
- Topics: Government, Politics

## Key points

- Burnham halted early releases pending a public-safety review.
- The row concerned two men convicted over PC Andrew Harper’s death.
- About 5,000 prisoners had been due for release from September.

## Summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused Labour’s planned early prisoner-release scheme after concerns that two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper could be freed early. The policy had been intended to relieve severe prison overcrowding, but Burnham said no releases would take place until an urgent review had assessed public-safety risks and any necessary changes.

Around 5,000 prisoners had been due for release from September under the scheme introduced during Sir Keir Starmer’s government. Henry Long, who received 16 years for his role in PC Harper’s death, would not qualify, but Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, each sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter, could have been eligible; Harper’s family and Thames Valley Police criticised the prospect. PC Harper was dragged behind a car for about a mile while responding to a burglary in Berkshire in 2019, and similar offenders could now receive life sentences under Harper’s Law.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.