August 11, 2026
Kate Bex KC spoke to LBC News this afternoon about proposals to exclude those serving sentences for manslaughter from early release, following renewed debate arising from the killing of PC Andrew Harper.
It followed the Prime Minister stating that he was considering three alternatives; repatriation of foreign offenders, release of those detained through the IPP regime and housing men in women’s prisons.
Kate highlighted the difficulty of applying a blanket approach to manslaughter, because the offence covers a wide spectrum of offending and levels of culpability. She highlighted that the Court of Appeal had endorsed the sentencing judge’s remarks that the killing of PC Harper was an offence very close to murder.
She argued that law makers ought to be able to find a way to enable decisions on early release that is more nuanced than a blanket approach.
Listen to the interview here with Shelagh Fogarty from 00:08:02
Kate Bex KC specialises in cases involving murder, manslaughter and organised crime and is widely recognised for handling complex and high-profile criminal matters
Barristers
Kate Bex KC
Call: 1992 | Silk: 2017