Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused the plan for the early release of certain prisonersPrime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will “put a pause” on the plan for the early release of prisoners. Under the new Sentencing Act set to come into force in September, some 6,000 criminals were due to be released under the early prison release scheme. Lissie Harper, the widow of Pc Andrew Harper, described the early release scheme as ‘deplorable’ (Jonathan Brady/PA)It comes after the family of police officer Andrew Harper criticised the fact that two of his killers were being considered for early release. But early release was on the cards for Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. Mr Burnham had already said he would review the early release policy.