SerpApi.Org
Pc Andrew Harper was a dedicated police officer, a beloved son and a loving husband. He had just married his childhood sweetheart, Lissie, and the couple were set to go on their honeymoon. But they never got the chance.
While responding to a burglary, Pc Harper was brutally killed in the line of duty. He was dragged behind a car for a mile by a gang of vicious thugs who left him for dead. These killers were eventually sentenced for manslaughter, and they should have been locked up for the rest of their lives.
The public outrage over Pc Harper’s killing led to the Conservative government introducing mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted of killing police officers or other emergency service workers. Known as Harper’s Law, the policy was the result of an inspiring campaign by Andrew’s widow, Lissie.
Yet two of Pc Harper’s killers are now set to be released from prison early. This is thanks to Labour’s Sentencing Act, which allows criminals to be released after serving as little as one third of their sentence. It is utterly disgraceful and shameful that these killers could soon be back on the streets in what Pc Harper’s brave mother has rightly called an insult “beyond anything able to be put into words”.
But sadly, this case is typical of Labour’s terrible handling of their early release scheme. During the passage of their Sentencing Act, the sentencing minister promised: “Those convicted of the most serious crimes will be unaffected and will remain in prison for as long as they do now.” As Pc Harper’s family and other victims can attest, this was a lie.
The Government has refused to answer even basic questions, such as how many criminals will be released, or how many of them are sex offenders. The former prisons minister Lord Timpson said it was “impossible for us to say exactly who will be released, where and when”. When we crunched the numbers ourselves, we worked out that 2,500 rapists and paedophiles alone are eligible.
The victims’ commissioner and the domestic abuse commissioner have both warned that the Government has failed to put in place key safeguards to keep victims safe. A hotline for victims that was promised months ago is still not operational.
From the limited information released by the Government, following our pressure, we know 8,700 victims have been warned that the perpetrators of crimes against them might be released. This includes Pc Harper’s mother, and many victims of the rape gangs, like Fiona Goddard who was groomed and raped by a gang in Bradford.
Labour’s true attitude was exposed when Wes Streeting, the new Defence Secretary, was caught joking that the new Justice Secretary “wants to let them all out”. Labour ministers may think it is funny, but victims who are living in fear do not.
We have tried to get the Government to change course. The Conservatives forced a vote in Parliament on excluding sex offenders from the early release scheme, and we won. This was the first defeat of the Government since Labour took office in 2024. The new Justice Secretary and the Prime Minister did not even turn up to vote and have refused so far to honour the result.
I also presented a Bill to Parliament proposing changes to the law to exclude sex offenders and other serious criminals from early release, but the Government still has not acted. Conceding that two of Pc Harper’s killers are indeed eligible for early release, Andy Burnham has said he ordered a “review” of early release – without providing any more details.
But the clock is ticking. Victims cannot wait weeks for a review when the first releases begin on September 2 – the day after Parliament returns from the summer recess. Victims need certainty, and so I have made an offer to Andy Burnham.
Telegraph View
If Burnham wants justice for Pc Harper, he must recall the Commons today
We in the Conservative Party will work with him to stop the early release of rapists, paedophiles, and serious criminals like those who killed Pc Harper. He has the chance to put an end to this now by supporting our emergency legislation.
While we wait for him to decide, victims like Pc Harper’s family are paying the price. Labour needs to realise: this is no laughing matter.
Nick Timothy MP is Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
