PM expands early release exclusions after pressure
The Prime Minister has expanded the prison early release exclusions to include manslaughter and other offences, following pressure from victims' families.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has expanded the list of offences excluded from the government's early release scheme, meaning hundreds more prisoners will remain behind bars. The changes, announced in an interview with the BBC, mean anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will no longer be eligible for early release. Also added to the exclusion list are indecent assault, death by dangerous driving, causing or allowing the death of a child, and historical child sex offences.
The move follows intense pressure from victims' families and a petition signed by more than a million people calling for the killers of PC Andrew Harper to stay in jail. PC Harper was killed in 2019 while investigating the theft of a quad bike. Two of his killers, Jesse Cole and Albert Bowers, had been due for early release under the scheme, which was introduced to ease prison overcrowding. Prisons in England and Wales are currently about 98% full.
In his interview, Mr Burnham said he had spent the summer "turning over every single stone" and that the new proposal would keep "hundreds" of offenders in prison. He said he had already acted quickly to exclude rapists, groomers and the most serious child sex offenders, but always wanted to go further.
To make room for the additional prisoners, the government plans to deport more foreign criminals, create more cells in existing prisons, and end the controversial indefinite sentences known as imprisonment for public protection (IPP). Mr Burnham acknowledged that ending IPP was not an easy choice, but said he had applied common sense.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, said she was grateful for the outcome but not joyful, adding that it had taken her family back to where they began. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, warned that victims would still be forced to take measures to protect themselves from dangerous abusers, and called for a significant increase in funding for victim services.
The Conservative Party accused Mr Burnham of changing his position on the scheme and called for more scrutiny by MPs. The Liberal Democrats said the uncertainty and distress caused by the scheme was unforgivable. The Howard League for Penal Reform welcomed the commitment to end IPP sentences but said the capacity crisis remained.
The full details of the changes are expected to be announced when Parliament returns on Tuesday. The early release scheme is due to begin in October.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Prime Minister expanded the list of offences excluded from the early release scheme to include indecent assault, death by dangerous driving, and all types of manslaughter. | ||||
| The government plans to end IPP sentences and deport more foreign offenders to free up prison space. | · | |||
| Domestic abuse offenders could still be released under the early release scheme. | · | · | · | |
| Prison capacity is nearly at 98%. | · | · | · | |
| The Conservatives accused Andy Burnham of changing his position weekly on the scheme. | · | · | · | |
| The decision follows a petition signed by more than a million people. | · | · | · | |
| The Domestic Abuse Commissioner said victims will still have to take measures to protect themselves. | · | · | · | |
| The early release scheme was intended to alleviate severe prison overcrowding. | · | · | · | |
| The killers of PC Andrew Harper are excluded from the early release programme. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel focused on the political pressure on the PM and the practical implications for the prison system. It included a visit to a prison and probation service, highlighting the challenges of overcrowding and the uncertainty for prisoners. The tone was analytical, emphasising the ongoing crisis and the difficult choices facing the government.
- “he has said that prisoners convicted of indecent assault, death by dangerous driving, all of those prisoners will remain in prison.”
- “the most dangerous offenders, those convicted of all types of manslaughter will be excluded from this scheme.”
- “the victims were being asked to bear the consequences of the prison capacity crisis.”
This channel led with the confirmation that PC Harper's killers would stay in prison and included emotional reaction from his mother. It also highlighted the Domestic Abuse Commissioner's concerns and the use of restriction zones. The tone was more news-driven, with a focus on the human impact and the government's next steps.
- “Andy Burnham confirms two of PC Andrew Harper's killers will not now be released early from prison following a campaign by his family.”
- “It's really difficult to know how to feel. It's not something that we can go out and be joyful about.”
- “The Prime Minister has also said that when people are released on this early release scheme some of them will be restricted to various restriction zones”
As the broadcaster that secured the exclusive interview with the PM, this channel gave the announcement prominent coverage. It provided detailed political analysis, including reaction from opposition parties and the Howard League. The tone was authoritative and explanatory, with a focus on the policy details and the political fallout.
- “We've spent the summer turning over every single stone.”
- “those who have been convicted for indecent assault, those convicted for death by dangerous driving, all of these offenders now will remain in prison, hundreds of them.”
- “I worry immensely for people that it doesn't happen for.”
This channel gave a clear, concise breakdown of the new exclusions and highlighted a potential gap: domestic abuse offenders could still be released. It also included reaction from PC Harper's mother. The tone was straightforward, with an emphasis on the practical list of offences and the remaining concerns.
- “Now we've come up with a proposal that will allow not just those guilty of manslaughter, the people involved in the killing of PC Harper, but those who have been convicted for indecent assault, those convicted for death by dangerous driving, all of these offenders now will remain in prison, hundreds of them.”
- “Domestic abuse offenders could still be released.”
- “Andrew was there for everybody, and I think everybody's been there for Andrew, really, you know, it's kind of come a bit of a full circle, really, I suppose, but I think overall, he would be more shocked than anything else and let down that it had to happen.”
This regional BBC channel covered the story with a focus on the local impact and the reaction from victims' groups. It included the PM's interview and the Conservative response, and noted the victims commissioner's warning. The tone was balanced, with a mix of national and regional perspectives.
- “We've spent the summer turning over every single single stone and now we've come up with a proposal that will allow not just those guilty of manslaughter the people involved in the killing of PC Harper, but those Who have been convicted for indecent assault? those convicted For death by dangerous driving all of these offenders now will remain in prison hundreds of them”
- “I am glad and I'm really grateful that you know, this has been the outcome for us I worry immensely for people that it doesn't happen for”
- “I'm pleased that the government have made this change or announced this change that is going to be coming But we still haven't seen the detail”
Broadcast Timeline
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