Families of homicide victims, including BBC racing commentator John Hunt, have urged the Government to exclude everyone convicted of manslaughter from Labour’s early-release scheme. They argue that limiting any new exemption to unlawful-act manslaughter would unfairly leave other bereaved families affected by serious killings, including domestic homicides, facing the prospect of earlier offender release.

The appeal was made in a letter to Justice Secretary Alex Norris, signed by relatives of victims including Barnaby Webber and Joanna Simpson. It follows indications that killers convicted of unlawful-act manslaughter in the case of PC Andrew Harper may be excluded; about 5,000 prisoners remain due for early release after exemptions reduced the original estimated total of 6,000, while the Ministry of Justice says it is accelerating plans to keep more dangerous offenders in custody.