Fifty senior police chiefs have written to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urging him to intervene and stop the scheduled early release of the two men convicted of murdering PC Andrew Harper. The officials say the release, which would come under the government’s automatic early‑release scheme, would damage public confidence in the justice system.
Background on the case
PC Andrew Harper, a Greater Manchester Police officer, was shot dead while on duty in 2023. Two men were subsequently convicted of his murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term. Under current legislation, certain long‑term prisoners become eligible for automatic early release after serving half of their sentence unless a ministerial direction blocks it.
Police leaders’ appeal
In a joint letter, chief constables and other senior officers from across England and Wales called on Burnham to use his powers to prevent the early release. They argued that letting the killers leave prison “would be inconsistent with the gravity of the crime and could erode trust in policing.” The letter, reported by the BBC and The Guardian, was signed by more than fifty police chiefs.
Burnham’s response
Burnham has said he is “confident” he can halt the release and has pledged to work with the Justice Secretary to find a solution. He indicated that his office would “free up prison spaces” to keep the offenders behind bars, a point highlighted by The Independent and the Financial Times.
“I am confident we can stop the early release of PC Harper’s killers,” Burnham told reporters, according to ITV News.
Political and policy context
The appeal comes amid wider criticism of the automatic early‑release system, which has faced scrutiny after several high‑profile offenders were freed earlier than expected. Burnham has previously accused the Justice Secretary of “throwing the Justice Secretary under the bus” for allowing such releases, as noted by Yahoo and Sky News.
Legal experts say the ministerial direction, if issued, would be a rare intervention but is within the powers of the Secretary of State for Justice, not the mayor. However, Burnham, as a prominent Labour figure and mayor of Greater Manchester, can exert political pressure and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, according to the Financial Times.
Next steps
The Justice Secretary is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks. Police chiefs have warned that any move to release the murderers will be met with “intense public and professional backlash.” Burnham reiterated his commitment to “find a way” to keep the killers incarcerated, signalling that the issue will remain a focal point of law‑and‑order politics ahead of the next general election.
