Andy Burnham plots major rule change to BLOCK early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers

In an attempt to prevent the pair from being freed, Ministers are reportedly willing to introduce an exemption that would stop those convicted of a certain type of manslaughter from being automatically released.

The specification surrounds those who committed an "unlawful act" manslaughter.

The new plans put forward are intended to include most of the 470 people serving sentences for manslaughter who are eligible for release.

Other forms of manslaughter, such as gross negligence or voluntary manslaughter, would still be released under the plans.

PC Harper, 28, was killed in 2019 after he was dragged for more than a mile at an average speed of 42.5mph responding to a quad bike theft in rural Berkshire.

His ankle became caught in a strap trailing the getaway car, making him unable to free himself from the vehicle.

The passengers in the car, Bowers and Cole, were sentenced to 13 years each in July 2020 for "unlawful act manslaughter", with the judge saying the "death was caused in the course of an unlawful act which involved a deliberate and premeditated intention to drive, if accosted by the police, in a way which was reckless as to whether the police officers died or not."

They added: "It was designed to expose them to a risk of death, and it killed Police Constable Harper."

A petition calling on Labour to block two releases has hit one million signatures as the public protest the controversial release scheme.

The Prime Minister has also said he is "increasingly confident" PC Harper’s killers will not be released early from their sentences as a result.

Ministers are said to be willing to commit to an exemption

PA