# UK early-release prison scheme paused > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-early-release-prison-reform > Updated: 2026-08-03T21:39:48.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 4. In June 2026 Justice Secretary David Lammy unveiled a statutory early‑release scheme for England and Wales, slated to begin in September. The reform would let prisoners convicted of serious violent offences serve roughly half of their term instead of the usual two‑thirds, with an initial wave of about 700 inmates and a target of 5,000‑7,000 releases over the next year. Funding of £700 million would expand probation, GPS tagging and curfews. Critics warned that killers and rapists could return to the streets too soon. In July 2026 the policy was applied to the high‑profile manslaughter case of PC Andrew Harper. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, each sentenced to 13 years, became eligible for release after serving half their terms, while co‑defendant Henry Long (16 years) was excluded. Harper’s mother Debbie Adlam, police unions and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham condemned the prospect and called for a review. On 24 July the government suspended the programme pending an urgent review led by Justice Secretary Alex Norris. Independent review chair Sir David Gauke warned that, without the reforms, prisons could run out of space by November, and the review would reconsider the lowered release thresholds, including a possible shift to a third of a sentence for some offenders. By early August, Harper’s widow Lissie Harper publicly denounced the plan as “deplorable”. The prime minister confirmed the pause, announced that rapists and serious child‑sex offenders would be excluded, and pushed any rollout back to October, highlighting the tension between overcrowding relief and victims’ rights. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: PC Andrew Harper's widow condemns early release of his killers in UK sentencing reform Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper, condemned the UK early‑release scheme that could free his killers, prompting the prime minister to pause and amend the plan. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pc-andrew-harpers-widow-condemns-early-release-of-his-killers-in-uk-sentencing-reform ### 2026-07-24: UK government pauses early prison release scheme amid capacity concerns UK suspends an early‑release plan for about 6,000 inmates, ordering an urgent review after family outrage over PC Andrew Harper’s killers and warnings that prisons could hit capacity by November. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-government-pauses-early-prison-release-scheme-amid-capacity-concerns ### 2026-07-21: PC Andrew Harper killers face early release under UK sentencing reforms Two men convicted of manslaughter in PC Andrew Harper’s 2019 death may be released early under the UK’s new Sentencing Act, sparking outrage from his mother and police unions. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-pc-andrew-harper-murderers-eligible-for-early-release-under-uk-labour-prison-plan ### 2026-06-25: UK Justice Minister David Lammy announces early release scheme for violent offenders UK Justice Secretary David Lammy plans to release 5‑7,000 violent offenders early from September, citing prison overcrowding; critics warn it endangers public safety. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-justice-minister-david-lammy-announces-early-release-scheme-for-violent-offenders --- Cite as: UK early-release prison scheme paused. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-early-release-prison-reform