Ministers are urgently seeking to free up spaces in overcrowded prisons across England and Wales. Photograph: Jeff Morgan/Alamy View image in fullscreen Ministers are urgently seeking to free up spaces in overcrowded prisons across England and Wales. Photograph: Jeff Morgan/Alamy Prisons and probation Burnham urged by 50 police leaders to prevent early release of PC Harper’s killers Letter signed by every chief constable in England and Wales warns freeing pair could weaken trust in justice system
Prefer the Guardian on Google Andy Burnham is facing an unprecedented mass call from police chiefs to block the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers, as unions warned his emergency plan to create more space in jails risked causing confusion or leading to prisoners being freed by mistake.
A letter signed by 50 police leaders across the UK, including every chief constable in England and Wales, called on the prime minister to do everything in his power to stop the killers benefiting from a programme designed to free up prison space, saying there was “a profound strength of feeling across policing” that this should not happen.
Burnham said earlier he recognised “the depth of public concern” about the proposed early release of Harper’s killers and announced a change to the early release scheme, intended to exclude prisoners convicted of the most serious offences by freeing up new prison places.
In their letter, released late on Tuesday night, the leaders, who included the Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, Greater Manchester’s chief constable, Stephen Watson, and the National Crime Agency director general, Graeme Biggar, said: “When the state asks people to run towards danger on behalf of the public, they should be able to trust that the justice system will stand behind them when the worst happens.
“Pc Andrew Harper’s case also raises a wider question.
“When someone is sentenced for an exceptionally serious offence, how much confidence can victims, bereaved families and the public place in that sentence if subsequent changes to release arrangements result in an offender being released significantly earlier than originally anticipated?”
The letter, which was signed by police chiefs from forces across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, added: “Officers and staff understand that the law must be applied as it stands. But they will question what message this sends about the value placed on their service and sacrifice when they put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
“Police officers and staff see first-hand the impact serious crime has on victims and their families. They support people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives and ask them to place their trust in the justice system.
“That trust is vital and should not be weakened. We are also collectively concerned that an approach to early release which does not sufficiently distinguish the most serious offending risks undermining public safety, victim confidence and wider confidence in the criminal justice system.”
Earlier, unions had warned that Burnham’s plan to stop the early release of PC Harper’s killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, and other serious offenders could increase the risk of some more dangerous prisoners being released by mistake.
It was also announced on Tuesday that probation staff had voted overwhelmingly to go on strike due to what they said were unrealistic workloads, in another blow to the proposals announced by the prime minis…