hundreds

PC Harper's killers to stay in jail as PM announces changes to early release scheme

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told the BBC that PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain behind bars as he announced changes to the early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Breakfast, Burnham said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, would be excluded from the scheme, which would have made two of the officer's killers eligible for early release.

Burnham conceded that of those offenders, there will be {"Andy Burnham tells BBC Breakfast anyone convicted of manslaughter will be excluded from the early release scheme in the Sentencing Act. Watch: PM confirms PC Harper's killers will remain in prison Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told the BBC that PC Andrew Harper's killers will remain behind bars as he announced changes to the early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding. In an exclusive interview with BBC Breakfast, Burnham said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, would be excluded from the scheme, which would have made two of the officer's killers eligible for early release. Burnham conceded that of those offenders, there will be "individuals who will pose a risk to communities", and said a cross-party oversight group would be established. The government will table legislation to terminate the sentences by the 'end of this Parliament', he added. "I've applied common sense," says Burnham on ending Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences Pressed on how many foreign prisoners could be returned, Burnham said it was "hundreds". Government figures show there were 10,134 foreign nationals in custody as of late June, representing 12% of the prison population. The government has said powers will be implemented early next year to deport some foreign criminals immediately after sentencing. Those powers would block foreign prisoners from ever returning to the country while "keeping those in prison for the most serious crimes locked up for a substantial period before they are removed".The government is not thought to have signed any additional prisoner returns agreements with other countries. It is understood that work has also begun to create more cells in existing prisons by adapting space used for other purposes, but that is also expected to take months. None of the measures announced by Burnham are likely to create much additional prison capacity by the time the first batch of prisoners are released early in October. The prime minister is said to have taken a 'political decision' to use some of the remaining capacity in the prison system to ensure the changes announced today could be implemented immediately. In addition to those in jail for manslaughter, the prime minister said prisoners convicted of indecent assault offences and death by dangerous driving will also remain in prison. Historic child sex offences and causing or allowing the death of a child will also be exempted from the early release scheme, while new 'restriction zones' to better protect domestic violence survivors from perpetrators released early will be introduced. The justice secretary is expected to give a more precise figure for how many people will be affected when he gives a statement in Parliament on Tuesday. In response to Sunday's announcement, Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy accused Labour of avoiding parliamentary scrutiny of the changes. "The