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Henry Long, the driver involved in a fatal incident, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison with no option for early release. Thames Valley police chief Jason Hogg expressed concerns about the government’s current policies during an interview on the Today programme, urging a reevaluation of the approach. He highlighted that the early release scheme in England and Wales excludes only those convicted of rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences, while individuals convicted of manslaughter remain eligible for early release.
Confronting these guidelines, Hogg remarked, “I fully understand the challenges around the crisis in the prison system. But the decision made and where that line has been drawn, I do not believe that people responsible for taking the life of another citizen in our country should be released early.” He also revealed ongoing discussions with the police federation, noting on Wednesday, “I was informed yesterday that the police federation are considering legal action, I am in discussions with the police federation with regards to this matter.” When questioned about his potential involvement in legal action, Hogg stated, “I think we need to get some legal advice in relation to this. This is something I certainly would consider.”
The issue has roots in “Harper’s Law,” passed after the death of PC Harper and championed by his wife, Lissie. The legislation mandates life sentences for those who kill emergency service workers and increases the maximum penalty for assaulting such workers from 12 months to two years. However, these changes, implemented in 2022, do not apply retroactively, meaning the killers of PC Harper were sentenced before the law’s enforcement and remain eligible for early release under the existing framework. Hogg criticized this outcome, saying, “The law isn’t retrospective and we all understand that, but the fact that they are released early simply seems perverse.”
Justice Minister Jake Richards defended the government’s stance, emphasizing the importance of consistency within the sentencing process. Richards told the BBC that singling out individual cases—specifically those involving PC Harper’s killers—for exclusion from early release would be inappropriate and unlawful. He confirmed that although the government reviewed offenses excluded from the scheme, manslaughter was not removed from eligibility. Richards stated, “It would be wrong to pick out individual cases within different offending cohorts. That wouldn’t be right. It wouldn’t be lawful either. So it is correct that those two individuals will be subject to the new regime from October.” Additionally, Justice Secretary Alex Norris highlighted a looming prison capacity crisis if early release policies were tightened further, apologizing to affected families but underscoring that more extensive changes could not be made without risking overcrowding. Norris outlined plans for 5,000 additional prisoner releases in ten batches starting in October, with a recent revision keeping around 1,000 prisoners from early release. The government also pledged £10 million toward frontline victim support services, which will include the establishment of a national helpline
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