Event
Napo members have voted overwhelmingly to strike, complicating Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plans to adjust an early release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales. The vote follows criticism from the union that the proposals are rushed and that the probation service is ill-equipped to handle the additional workload. Burnham recently instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to find more prison space to prevent the early release of serious offenders, including the killers of PC Andrew Harper, amidst significant public outcry.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 33%
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces operational headwinds as probation staff vote to strike, undermining the Ministry of Justice’s capacity to manage the expanded early release scheme.
Background
Napo members have voted overwhelmingly (91%) to strike, complicating Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plans to adjust an early release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales. The vote follows union criticism that the proposals are rushed and that the probation service is ill-equipped to handle the additional workload. Burnham recently instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to find more prison space to prevent the early release of serious offenders, including the killers of PC Andrew Harper, amidst significant public outcry.
Napo members have voted overwhelmingly (91%) to strike, complicating Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plans to adjust an early release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales. The vote follows union criticism that the proposals are rushed and that the probation service is ill-equi
Fact cards
Key entities: Andy Burnham, Napo, Alex Norris, PC Andrew Harper, Jessie Cole, Albert Bowers, Ministry of Justice.
The Guardian Politics | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/11/probation-staff-strike-vote-burnham-early-release | published 2026-08-11T17:24:16.000Z | primary source | The Guardian Politics | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/11/andy-burnham-justice-secretar
2019: PC Andrew Harper is fatally injured in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, after becoming entangled in a strap attached to a car fleeing a quad bike theft. 2020: Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers are sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in the death of PC Andrew Harper. 2026 (Earlier in
Timeline
PC Andrew Harper is fatally injured in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, after becoming entangled in a strap attached to a car fleeing a quad bike theft.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers are sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in the death of PC Andrew Harper.
The Sentencing Act is passed, reducing the minimum time many offenders must spend in prison.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces changes to the early release schedule, aiming to exclude serious offenders such as Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were due to be released halfway through their sentences in January.
Napo members vote 91% in favour of strike action. Burnham instructs Justice Secretary Alex Norris to find more prison space to prevent the early release of serious offenders.