The government apologises to the family of police officer Andrew Harper following criticism connected to a wider early release scheme. Multiple reports say the apology is made in relation to sentencing changes that allow some offenders to be released earlier than previously would have been the case. The Evening Standard reports that around 5,000 people are expected to be released early under the changes. The Belfast Telegraph similarly says the government issues an apology to Pc Harper’s family, indicating the family’s concerns about the impact of the policy on public safety and victims’ families. While the articles focus on the apology and the expected scale of early releases, they do not provide further detail on how release decisions will be made or how Pc Harper’s case specifically relates to the scheme. Overall, the reports agree that the government is responding to backlash by formally apologising to Pc Harper’s family as the sentencing changes proceed and early releases are anticipated at the scale of several thousand people.