Napo strike vote complicates Burnham’s push to block early release of PC Harper killers
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.
Probation officers in England and Wales have voted overwhelmingly to strike, delivering a significant operational setback to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s efforts to recalibrate the government’s early release scheme. The vote by members of the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) comes as ministers scramble to address public outrage over the planned release of serious offenders, including the killers of PC Andrew Harper.
The ballot result, with 91 per cent of members supporting industrial action, was described by Napo national chair Ben Cockburn as a warning that professionals cannot adequately protect the public due to severe staffing shortages. The union argued that the probation service is ill-equipped to handle the additional workload associated with the expanded early release programme, which includes notifying victims of impending releases.
The strike vote intensifies pressure on the government following Burnham’s announcement on Tuesday that he had instructed Justice Secretary Alex Norris to identify additional prison space. This directive aims to prevent the early release of high-profile offenders such as Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were convicted of manslaughter in the death of PC Harper and were scheduled for release in January under the current emergency plan.
Burnham outlined potential solutions to free up capacity, including the expedited removal of foreign offenders, the release of lower-risk prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, and the utilisation of the female prison estate for male inmates. He stated on Facebook that he shares the public’s concern regarding the potential release of those involved in Harper’s death and is committed to preventing their early release altogether.
The controversy stems from the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year, which reduced the minimum time many offenders must serve in custody. While exemptions were initially made for those convicted of rape and serious child sexual abuse, manslaughter cases were not excluded, prompting a petition with nearly 900,000 signatures demanding intervention. The Ministry of Justice expressed disappointment with the strike ballot but maintained it would continue to engage with unions as it prepares legislative proposals for parliament.
