LONDON — Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government is changing its prisoner-release policy after intense public and political pressure over the possible early release of two men convicted in connection with the death of PC Andrew Harper.

The government had initially introduced a scaled-back early-release programme to help tackle severe overcrowding in Britain's prisons. However, the policy triggered a major backlash after it emerged that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could potentially qualify for release.

Ministers have now decided that the two men should be excluded from the scheme, with Justice Secretary Alex Norris instructed to develop a new approach by September.

The government is considering alternative ways to reduce pressure on the prison system, including changes affecting prisoners serving indefinite sentences, greater use of early release for some women prisoners and faster deportation of eligible foreign national offenders.

The controversy has created an early political test for Burnham, who became prime minister only weeks ago. His government had initially resisted further changes, arguing that the prison-release system faced legal and capacity constraints.

The reversal highlights the political difficulty of balancing prison overcrowding with public confidence in the justice system. Britain faces significant pressure on prison capacity, but cases involving serious violent offences can quickly become politically sensitive when early-release decisions affect high-profile victims.

Opposition parties are expected to continue pressing the government over its wider prison strategy, while ministers face the challenge of finding additional prison capacity without repeatedly expanding early-release measures.

For Burnham, the episode is an important test of whether his government can respond quickly to public concerns while developing a sustainable long-term solution to Britain's prison overcrowding crisis.