The Government has moved to block the early release of two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper, reversing the prospect that they could leave prison before completing half of their 13-year sentences. The decision follows intense public criticism of the wider early-release scheme and pressure from police leaders and Harper’s family.

Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were convicted of unlawful-act manslaughter after PC Harper was dragged behind a car during a 2019 quad-bike theft in Berkshire. Their driver, Henry Long, was not eligible for early release. Under the existing rules, however, Bowers and Cole could have been released next year, with wider reforms potentially lowering the threshold further. ¹

The left-leaning account presents the decision chiefly as a Government U-turn. It links the change to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to “do everything possible” to keep the men in custody, while noting that ministers had previously described reports of a specific exemption for unlawful-act manslaughter as speculation. The Government is also reviewing the scheme, introduced to ease prison overcrowding, and plans secondary legislation to amend the Sentencing Act. ¹

Right-leaning coverage places greater emphasis on public anger and the political cost of the proposed releases. It highlights a petition that reportedly gathered more than one million signatures, warnings from senior police figures and criticism from Harper’s widow, Lissie. She described the prospect of release as “an utter betrayal” and said the men “should remain in jail.” ²

Both accounts report that Justice Secretary Alex Norris intends to exclude unlawful-act manslaughter, alongside offences including rape and child grooming, from the revised scheme. Police chiefs were told the changes would keep Bowers and Cole behind bars, although the legislation is still to be introduced. The Government said Harper’s death was “a horrific crime” and that it was exploring options to keep more serious offenders in prison. ⁴