Justice Secretary Alex Norris (centre) during a tour of the site for HMP Welland Oaks, a new prison which is currently under construction in Market Harborough, LeicestershireFamilies affected by the early release scheme are “carrying the can” for the failure of previous governments to build enough prison places, Justice Secretary Alex Norris has said. It comes after the Government apologised to the family of Pc Andrew Harper as two of his killers remain eligible for early release. Mr Norris said he “wanted to go further” with the exemptions, but could not as the prison estate would fill up “very quickly”. Talking about the early release scheme exemptions, he added: “We wanted to go further. Ministers announced on Monday that rapists and serious child sex offenders would be exempt from the early release scheme, after a review of the policy ordered by Andy Burnham shortly after he became Prime Minister.