Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Manslaughter Killers Barred From Early Release After Intervention
The government is changing rules about when some prisoners can leave prison.
People convicted of manslaughter or dangerous driving causing death will not get the planned early release.
This means two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper will stay in prison for their full relevant sentences.
The government is also excluding some people convicted of serious crimes against children and historic grooming offences.
It plans to create special restriction zones to help protect victims of domestic abuse.
Some offenders may have to wear electronic tags and could be banned from pubs or public events.
Some foreign criminals may be deported soon after being sentenced.
The government also plans to end IPP sentences during this parliamentary term.
Officials say they are adding prison places because prisons have been overcrowded.
Manslaughter, death by dangerous driving and historic child-sex offences will be excluded from the early-release scheme.
The change means Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers will not have their sentences shortened for PC Andrew Harper’s killing.
New restriction zones will limit some sexual and violent offenders’ movements to protect domestic-abuse victims.
The government plans to deport some foreign criminals immediately after sentencing from early next year.
The Sentencing Act 2026 scheme is due to begin on October 1, with fuller impact figures expected in Parliament.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the changes; they affect prisoners convicted of manslaughter, death by dangerous driving and specified serious or historic offences, including Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers.
- What
- The government expanded exclusions from an early-release scheme, announced restriction zones for some offenders, and outlined prison expansion and foreign-prisoner deportation measures.
- When
- The early-release scheme is scheduled to begin on October 1; some deportation powers are planned for early next year, and IPP sentences are to end during this parliament.
- Where
- The measures apply to the prison and justice system, including restriction zones intended to protect domestic-abuse victims.
- Why
- The government said the changes would protect the public, respond to concern over serious offences and address prison overcrowding.
Supporters of tougher exclusions
Concerns about wider prison policy
Keeping serious offenders imprisoned
Supporters of tougher exclusions
Andy Burnham, Thames Valley Police and Debbie Adlam welcomed excluding manslaughter and other serious offences, saying victims and bereaved families need confidence that the crimes receive appropriate punishment.
Concerns about wider prison policy
Adlam welcomed the decision but said the overall system still had major gaps and expressed concern for victims whose cases were not covered.
Prison and sentencing reforms
Supporters of tougher exclusions
The government said tougher controls, more prison places, deportations and restriction zones are needed to protect the public while addressing overcrowding.
Concerns about wider prison policy
The planned early-release scheme and the prison-capacity pressures show the wider system is still under strain; the precise number of people affected had not yet been announced.
- Excluded offences
- Manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, historic child-sex and grooming offences, killing an emergency worker, and causing or allowing a child’s death.
- PC Andrew Harper
- He was dragged along a Berkshire road in 2019 while responding to a burglary.
- Relevant sentences
- Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers received 13-year manslaughter sentences; Henry Long received an extended 16-year sentence.
- IPP prisoners
- Ministry of Justice data showed 2,271 people serving IPP sentences in June, including 856 who had never been released.
- Foreign nationals in custody
- There were 10,134 foreign nationals in custody in late June, representing 12% of the prison population.
- Prison capacity
- The government said more than 3,200 prison places had been built since it took office, with 14,000 expected by 2031.
- Scheme start date
- The early-release scheme is scheduled to start on October 1.