Police leaders heap pressure on PM to prevent early release of Pc Harper killers

We spoke to Debbie Adlam, PC Andrew Harper's mum, and asked her whether the reassurances from the prime minister, that he was going to do everything he can, did in fact, reassure her.

None of the solutions proposed are quick or easy and some carry political risk, writes UK correspondent Daniel Sandford.

The PM said he is "increasingly confident" new plans will reduce the number of prisoners released early

The PM said he was ‘increasingly confident’ that a solution will be found to the jail overcrowding crisis to ‘prevent their early release’

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said work to free up space in the prison system would be fast-tracked.

Times Radio: ‘Angry and frustrated’ Burnham wants justice secretary to stop PC Harper’s killers’ release  The Times

Debbie Adlam, the mother of PC Andrew Harper, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain

Craig Munro | Senior Politics Reporter Published August 11, 2026 8:34am Updated August 11, 2026 8:35am Jessie Cole, left, and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car that dragged Andrew Harper to his death in 2019 (Picture: Thames Valley Police/PA Wire) The killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early,

Justice Secretary Alex Norris will now look at ways to keep “a greater number of the the most serious offenders” behind bars

Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked by new PM Andy Burnham with finding ways to keep the serious offenders in prison, including the killers of PC Harper

‘Andy did his duty that night. The least they can do is show him some respect’, says a first responder at fatal scene – as No 10 claims it can’t keep killers behind bars

Burnham orders plans to be drawn up to stop release of Andrew Harper’s killers  itv.com

Burnham tells ministers to 'find way to block PC Harper's killers' release as pressure mounts on PM  lbc.co.uk

Andy Burnham has asked his justice secretary to find a way to keep two of PC Andrew Harper's killers behind bars when the early release scheme comes into effect in October.