Burnham seeks to block early release of PC Harper's killers

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has asked his justice secretary to find a way to prevent two of PC Andrew Harper's killers from being released early when a new early-release scheme begins in October. BBC analysis notes the options are neither quick nor easy and carry political risk.

Coverage from 2 publishers 2 source reports

BBCSky

How can Andy Burnham stop PC Harper's killers being released early?

Update summary

What changed in this update

None of the solutions proposed are quick or easy and some carry political risk, writes UK correspondent Daniel Sandford.

Event intelligence

Effort to exclude PC Andrew Harper's killers from UK early release scheme

2 connected story threads

In this event PM asks justice secretary to find way to exclude PC Harper’s killers from early release scheme Earlier coverage

Source coverage

Source reports

BBC Published 11 August 2026

How can Andy Burnham stop PC Harper's killers being released early?

None of the solutions proposed are quick or easy and some carry political risk, writes UK correspondent Daniel Sandford.

Sky Published 10 August 2026

Burnham wants to find way to stop release of PC Harper's killers

Andy Burnham has asked his justice secretary to find a way to keep two of PC Andrew Harper's killers behind bars when the early release scheme comes into effect in October.

More news

Also in the news

Teacher guilty of indecent assault with two male pupils

UK 20h ago Established

Teacher convicted of indecent assault on two pupils in 1980s

Sally-Anne Bowen, 65, a former chemistry teacher at Christ's College in Finchley, north London, has been convicted at Harrow Crown Court of seven counts of indecent assault against two teenage pupils at the all-boys school in the late 1980s.

3 references

GuardianSkyBBC

Discovery

See what’s emerging. See what’s changing.

Explore stories gaining momentum and continuing events with new developments.

Explore Discovery