Andy Burnham has faced fresh criticism after revising his early prison release scheme to keep the killers of PC Andrew Harper behind bars, while making room by releasing hundreds of other offenders, including those serving indefinite "imprisonment for public protection" (IPP) sentences originally imposed on prisoners deemed a significant risk to the public. Critics, including one of Burnham's own ministers, former justice secretary David Gauke and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, warned the move prioritises political optics over genuine risk assessment, since many IPP prisoners have repeatedly been judged too dangerous for release, while stalkers and domestic abusers remain eligible for early release under the scheme.

Around 5,000 prisoners had been due for early release next month to ease overcrowding, down from 6,000 after rapists and serious child sex offenders were exempted. Burnham has now further excluded those convicted of unlawful killing, manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, indecent assault and grooming-gang offences, meaning Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, convicted of PC Harper's manslaughter in 2020, will no longer qualify. However, to free up cell space, ministers are instead releasing IPP prisoners, sentences abolished in 2012 but still served by offenders assessed as high risk, prompting warnings that stalkers and domestic abusers could reoffend against their victims.