Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that individuals convicted of manslaughter, including the killers of PC Andrew Harper, will not be eligible for early release under the new Sentencing Act. This decision follows significant advocacy from Harper's family and colleagues against the potential early release of his murderers, who were sentenced to 13 years in 2020.
Burnham also outlined plans to create additional prison space by deporting foreign prisoners and modifying the treatment of those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences. The government aims to ensure that serious offenders remain incarcerated while addressing prison overcrowding, which currently exceeds 97% capacity in England and Wales.