Justice minister defends early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers amid possible legal challenge – UK politics live
Key events
Justice minister Jake Richards said the government “cannot carve out every single offence people might want us to” amid claims a loophole means historical child sex abusers will still be eligible for early release from prison.
Asked about The Times reporting that the rules will not apply to child sex offences that took place before the law changed in 2003, Richards told Sky News:
Well, we’ve set out and published all the offences which have been now carved out of the new scheme that begins in October.
Those are all online, several pages. But what we have been very clear is that we cannot carve out every single offence that people might want us to do so.
We would like to do that, the prime minister has been very clear in his public pronouncements on this.
Meanwhile, Richards told BBC Breakfast that “previous early release schemes… were rushed”.
He added:
They weren’t thought through. There was no preparatory work at all done by the government because they were essentially running a system which was out of control, and that this is fundamentally different.
He said the new scheme would ensure every victim was contacted and invited to share what measures they want in place to “ensure that they can be kept safe”.
Thames Valley chief constable ‘considering’ joining Police Federation legal challenge
The Thames Valley chief constable has said he is “receiving legal advice” and would “certainly consider” joining the Police Federation’s legal action over the possible release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers.
Asked if he would join the case, Jason Hogg told the BBC’s Today programme on Wednesday:
This is something I certainly would consider. But like I said, I urge the government now.
I do think that the public opinion is overwhelming in this matter, but I think it’s unfair and I do believe confidence in the criminal justice system risks being damaged.
It’s right for the government to have a look at this matter.
He added that their possible release has had a “profound impact” on his force.
Minister defends early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers amid possible legal challenge
Good morning and welcome to the UK politics blog.
Ministers continue to defend the release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers as part of the government’s early prisoner release scheme, despite a potential legal challenge from the Police Federation.
Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged the “unimaginable pain” of the deceased officer’s family but said “difficult decisions” must be made because law and order could “collapse” without a functioning prison system.
About 1,000 fewer prisoners will be released early after Andy Burnham’s intervention to exclude those convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming from the scheme.
Asked to respond to Police Federation chief Aileen O’Connor’s threat of legal action, he told Sky News:
Well, look, we understand that people are angry. The Harper family are, of course, angry. The police are angry too.
We’re angry that we’re in this situation where we face the unenviable position of having to make sure that we have a sustainable prison system, which is so vital to a functioning law and order system in our country, but also that we do right by victims as far as possible.
And the prime minister has looked again at the scheme. He said he wants to do more than he has been able to do, and that we wanted to take further action to try and ease the unimaginable pain that the Harper family are feeling every day, but we also have to balance that by ensuring that we have a functioning prison system.
He added:
Because without a functioning prison system, it means it’s difficult for police to make arrests, it’s difficult for our courts to try cases, and it could mean to the collapse of law and order in this country.
We cannot be in that situation, so that is the challenge that we face as government ministers and the prime minister faces ultimately.
Richards’ defence of the policy came as a Police Federation chief told Times Radio she feels “sick to her stomach” over the possible early release of PC Harper’s killers.
Aileen O’Connor, chairwoman of Thames Valley Police Federation, previously wrote in The Sun newspaper that the organisation “will throw everything at this through a proper legal challenge from KCs, barristers, you name it.”
She added on Wednesday:
I feel sick to my stomach, if I’m really honest with you. I’ve had a gut wrenching feeling in my stomach the past couple of weeks with this, and it doesn’t go away.
And arguably, I would say that many of my members across Thames Valley also have this gut wrenching feeling, even at the prospect of these two killers being released in the space of weeks, potentially.
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