Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

There was a problem loading this video. This could be due to a temporary network issue or the video might be unavailable.

'We have to take very difficult decisions on sentencing' On #BBCBreakfast Sentencing Minister Jake Richards defended the early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper - as his colleagues threaten legal action against the Government to stop it going ahead

BBC Breakfast

613,841 subscribers

25,548 views • 10 days ago •via X (Twitter)

News & Politics #BBCBreakfast

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Comments

No comments available

Comments from the original post will appear here

Related Videos

'There is still no justice for Andrew Harper' Aileen O'Connor from Thames Valley Police Federation told #BBCBreakfast they are considering legal action against the Government to prevent the early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper

'There is still no justice for Andrew Harper' Aileen O'Connor from Thames Valley Police Federation told #BBCBreakfast they are considering legal action against the Government to prevent the early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper

BBC Breakfast

17,741 views • 10 days ago

'Why can the Government not look again at this individual case?' Government minister Anna Turley was questioned on #BBCBreakfast after the senior investigating officer in the PC Andrew Harper case said he was "appalled" that two of the killers will become eligible for early release.

'Why can the Government not look again at this individual case?' Government minister Anna Turley was questioned on #BBCBreakfast after the senior investigating officer in the PC Andrew Harper case said he was "appalled" that two of the killers will become eligible for early release.

BBC Breakfast

87,207 views • 8 days ago

"I do support them in that... These are killers." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says she supports the Police Federation in seeking to bring legal action against the early release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.

"I do support them in that... These are killers." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says she supports the Police Federation in seeking to bring legal action against the early release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.

BBC Radio 4 Today

17,941 views • 10 days ago

Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, has expressed dismay after reports her late husband's killers may be eligible for early release under changes introduced through the Sentencing Act.

Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, has expressed dismay after reports her late husband's killers may be eligible for early release under changes introduced through the Sentencing Act.

Sky News

38,789 views • 23 days ago

The mother of PC Andrew Harper has told the BBC she is "bitterly devastated" two of his killers remain eligible for early release after the government revised plans to tackle prison overcrowding in England and Wales. On #BBCBreakfast Justice Secretary Alex Norris explained those who committed rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences will be excluded from the scheme - but not the killers of PC Harper, to the anger of his mother Debbie Adlam

The mother of PC Andrew Harper has told the BBC she is "bitterly devastated" two of his killers remain eligible for early release after the government revised plans to tackle prison overcrowding in England and Wales. On #BBCBreakfast Justice Secretary Alex Norris explained those who committed rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences will be excluded from the scheme - but not the killers of PC Harper, to the anger of his mother Debbie Adlam

BBC Breakfast

38,817 views • 11 days ago

'I hope the Prime Minister does listen to this' Former Det Sup Stuart Blaik, who led the Thames Valley Police investigation in the PC Andrew Harper case, told #BBCBreakfast he believes "there are options available to Ministers" to stop two of his killers - Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - being considered for early release under Government plans

'I hope the Prime Minister does listen to this' Former Det Sup Stuart Blaik, who led the Thames Valley Police investigation in the PC Andrew Harper case, told #BBCBreakfast he believes "there are options available to Ministers" to stop two of his killers - Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - being considered for early release under Government plans

BBC Breakfast

27,947 views • 8 days ago

'They shouldn't have been considered in the first place for early release, what kind of society are we living in if that's the standards we are keeping' Debbie Adlam, the mother of PC Andrew Harper, spoke to #BBCBreakfast after learning two of his killers remain eligible for early release after the government revised plans to tackle overcrowding by excluding prisoners who committed rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences

'They shouldn't have been considered in the first place for early release, what kind of society are we living in if that's the standards we are keeping' Debbie Adlam, the mother of PC Andrew Harper, spoke to #BBCBreakfast after learning two of his killers remain eligible for early release after the government revised plans to tackle overcrowding by excluding prisoners who committed rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences

BBC Breakfast

23,630 views • 11 days ago

'The public are losing faith in the justice system' On #BBCBreakfast former Old Bailey criminal judge Wendy Joseph criticised the Government's early release of some prisoners from jail, which could include two killers of PC Andrew Harper

'The public are losing faith in the justice system' On #BBCBreakfast former Old Bailey criminal judge Wendy Joseph criticised the Government's early release of some prisoners from jail, which could include two killers of PC Andrew Harper

BBC Breakfast

18,408 views • 7 days ago

'We are looking at all options' Government minister Angela Rayner confirmed on #BBCBreakfast that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told his Justice Secretary to find a way to exclude two of PC Andrew Harper's killers from an early release scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding

'We are looking at all options' Government minister Angela Rayner confirmed on #BBCBreakfast that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told his Justice Secretary to find a way to exclude two of PC Andrew Harper's killers from an early release scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding

BBC Breakfast

24,873 views • 4 days ago

'I'd urge the Government to look again at this issue' Jason Hogg, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, told #BBCBreakfast his officers are 'angry and let down' that two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper are still eligible for early release from prison under revised plans

'I'd urge the Government to look again at this issue' Jason Hogg, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, told #BBCBreakfast his officers are 'angry and let down' that two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper are still eligible for early release from prison under revised plans

BBC Breakfast

19,882 views • 10 days ago

"The level of disrespect the Government are showing to Andrew and other victims ... is beyond contempt" Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, says she is "appalled" by the government's announcement to release two of her late husband's killers early. #Newsnight

"The level of disrespect the Government are showing to Andrew and other victims ... is beyond contempt" Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, says she is "appalled" by the government's announcement to release two of her late husband's killers early. #Newsnight

BBC Newsnight

21,216 views • 11 days ago

'They showed absolutely no remorse' Former Det Sup Stuart Blaik, who led the Thames Valley Police investigation in the PC Andrew Harper case, said "the Government needs to review" the prospect of two of his killers - Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - being considered for early release

'They showed absolutely no remorse' Former Det Sup Stuart Blaik, who led the Thames Valley Police investigation in the PC Andrew Harper case, said "the Government needs to review" the prospect of two of his killers - Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - being considered for early release

BBC Breakfast

29,857 views • 8 days ago

'We've now got a little bit of hope that we didn't have before' Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, told #BBCBreakfast she was contacted by a senior official at Number 10 last night to be told the Prime Minister is looking to find a way to exclude two of his killers from an early release scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding

'We've now got a little bit of hope that we didn't have before' Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, told #BBCBreakfast she was contacted by a senior official at Number 10 last night to be told the Prime Minister is looking to find a way to exclude two of his killers from an early release scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding

BBC Breakfast

26,177 views • 4 days ago

The early release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper is emphatically wrong. No ifs. No buts. Our Prime Minister should intervene and block it.

The early release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper is emphatically wrong. No ifs. No buts. Our Prime Minister should intervene and block it.

Festus Akinbusoye

31,168 views • 11 days ago

🤨 Jake Richards, the Sentencing Minister, just went on BBC Breakfast and defended releasing two of the men who killed PC Andrew Harper early. His line: “The government have to draw a line at some point because if we don’t, we risk having a prison system in collapse. We will not shy away from making difficult decisions because it’s the right thing to do.” 😡 No! It is categorically NOT the right thing to do! Letting them out early under a prison overcrowding scheme is a national disgrace. Harper’s mother has called it devastating. Police colleagues are threatening legal action. And the government shrugs and says “nothing we can do”. Absolute rubbish. There is something you can do: • Prioritise releasing genuine non-violent offenders first. • There are thousands of people in prison for lower-level or “miscellaneous” offences (perjury and similar). Start there. • There are roughly 10,000 foreign national offenders in our prisons. Deport them. That frees space without putting the killers of a police officer back on the streets early. This is not an inevitable “difficult decision”. It is a choice. Labour is choosing the path of least resistance and calling it courage. Releasing the killers of a serving police officer while claiming your hands are tied is inexcusable. It is a failure of priorities and a betrayal of the public’s most basic expectation of justice. These two should never have been eligible. Reverse it. Block the early release. Do the actual right thing.

🤨 Jake Richards, the Sentencing Minister, just went on BBC Breakfast and defended releasing two of the men who killed PC Andrew Harper early. His line: “The government have to draw a line at some point because if we don’t, we risk having a prison system in collapse. We will not shy away from making difficult decisions because it’s the right thing to do.” 😡 No! It is categorically NOT the right thing to do! Letting them out early under a prison overcrowding scheme is a national disgrace. Harper’s mother has called it devastating. Police colleagues are threatening legal action. And the government shrugs and says “nothing we can do”. Absolute rubbish. There is something you can do: • Prioritise releasing genuine non-violent offenders first. • There are thousands of people in prison for lower-level or “miscellaneous” offences (perjury and similar). Start there. • There are roughly 10,000 foreign national offenders in our prisons. Deport them. That frees space without putting the killers of a police officer back on the streets early. This is not an inevitable “difficult decision”. It is a choice. Labour is choosing the path of least resistance and calling it courage. Releasing the killers of a serving police officer while claiming your hands are tied is inexcusable. It is a failure of priorities and a betrayal of the public’s most basic expectation of justice. These two should never have been eligible. Reverse it. Block the early release. Do the actual right thing.

J Stewart

49,484 views • 10 days ago

'Let's recall Parliament for 24 hours, let's pass emergency legislation if it's required' Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper told #BBCBreakfast the party wants MPs to be recalled to stop two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper being released early

'Let's recall Parliament for 24 hours, let's pass emergency legislation if it's required' Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper told #BBCBreakfast the party wants MPs to be recalled to stop two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper being released early

BBC Breakfast

20,706 views • 2 days ago

“We... are looking at all legal avenues.” Conservative and Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber calls on the government to prevent the early release of two of PC Harper’s killers. #Newsnight

“We... are looking at all legal avenues.” Conservative and Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber calls on the government to prevent the early release of two of PC Harper’s killers. #Newsnight

BBC Newsnight

18,609 views • 9 days ago

A police federation has threatened legal action over plans to allow the killers of PC Andrew Harper to be freed halfway through their sentences, as part of the early release scheme. PC Harper was killed in August 2019 by Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers when he responded to a quad bike theft. The Government announced on Monday that some crimes would exempt prisoners from early release, including rape and grooming gang offences, but Cole and Bowers still remain eligible with their convictions of manslaughter. Thames Valley Police Federation has threatened to take the Government to court to prevent their release.

A police federation has threatened legal action over plans to allow the killers of PC Andrew Harper to be freed halfway through their sentences, as part of the early release scheme. PC Harper was killed in August 2019 by Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers when he responded to a quad bike theft. The Government announced on Monday that some crimes would exempt prisoners from early release, including rape and grooming gang offences, but Cole and Bowers still remain eligible with their convictions of manslaughter. Thames Valley Police Federation has threatened to take the Government to court to prevent their release.

Good Morning Britain

27,646 views • 10 days ago

“He wanted to do more, but he has been unable to at this stage.” Justice Minister Jake Richards defends the prime minister after the Chief Constable of Thames valley Police says he’s considering legal action if PC Harper's killers are not excluded from the early release scheme.

“He wanted to do more, but he has been unable to at this stage.” Justice Minister Jake Richards defends the prime minister after the Chief Constable of Thames valley Police says he’s considering legal action if PC Harper's killers are not excluded from the early release scheme.

BBC Radio 4 Today

17,376 views • 10 days ago

'I won't give up.' Andy Burnham has said he is "confident more can be done" to address the public concern over the prison early release scheme. It comes as the PM faces continued pressure over the planned early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.

'I won't give up.' Andy Burnham has said he is "confident more can be done" to address the public concern over the prison early release scheme. It comes as the PM faces continued pressure over the planned early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.

Sky News

51,545 views • 4 days ago