Justice minister defends early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers amid possible legal challenge – UK politics live

The UK government is defending its early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers under a prisoner early-release scheme, even as the Police Federation weighs a legal challenge. A justice minister acknowledged the Harper family's "unimaginable pain" but said officials face a tough balancing act, warning that prison overcrowding risks undermining arrests and court proceedings. The Guardian reports police representatives in Thames Valley describe a "gut-wrenching" dread as the killers' release, potentially just weeks away, draws nearer. PC Harper died in 2019 after being dragged behind a car while responding to a burglary call.

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