Police and Crime Commissioner welcomes changes to the Sentencing Act

Police and Crime Commissioner welcomes changes to the Sentencing Act

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, has welcomed confirmation that changes will be made to the Sentencing Act that will see the killers of PC Andrew Harper excluded from the early release scheme

Matthew Barber said: “The Government’s change of direction on the Sentencing Act is a welcome move. Following a campaign backed by well over one million people across the country, I am pleased that changes will be made to the flawed Sentencing Act.

“This success is rather bittersweet however. It took the tragic case of the killing of PC Andrew Harper to put the spotlight on the Government’s plans for the early release of thousands of criminals.

“We all accept that there is a big challenge in managing our prison population, but the Sentencing Act was intended to allow the release of killers, rapists and child sex offenders. This change in position is welcome, but I await the details when they are presented to Parliament, hopefully later this week.

“Fundamental problems with the Sentencing Act remain, especially with regards to domestic abuse perpetrators and the lack of a risk assessment in the early release programme. I will continue to work with the Government and with Thames Valley Police to try to mitigate the problems caused by this early release scheme.”

Earlier today (Sunday 30 August), the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, confirmed that anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, would be excluded from the early release scheme. This will include two of the men responsible for the death of PC Andrew Harper, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers. The third, Henry Long, was not eligible for early release. 

Emergency legislation to amend the Sentencing Act will be tabled to the House of Commons in the coming weeks.