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Ministers could block the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers by freeing up cell space where alleged criminals are being held on remand, a union chief suggested yesterday.

Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers' Association, said he was 'positive we could free up additional space' by bailing or tagging thousands of people arrested and awaiting trial.

But Downing Street yesterday insisted it was 'not possible' to exempt 'one or two offenders' from Labour's early release scheme, paving the way for PC Harper's killers to be free within months.

It came despite a petition calling for Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers to be kept behind bars reaching nearly 900,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, the first police officer on the scene of PC Harper's death accused ministers of 'spitting in the faces' of police officers and women.

Asked about the fiasco, Mr Fairhurst said he believed there were around 17,000 people currently on remand.

Speaking to Times Radio, he added: 'I'm sure we could get a couple of thousand of them bailed or tagged with the GPS tag to monitor them electronically.

Andy Burnham said last week he had 'pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do' by exempting 1,000 rapists, child sex offenders and groomers from eligibility for early release

Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers' Association, contradicted the PM by saying he was 'positive we could free up additional space' by bailing or tagging thousands on remand

PC Harper, 28, died after investigating the theft of a £10,000 quad bike in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019

'That's an easy win for this government and I can't understand why they don't consider it.

'I'm positive we could free up additional space and block anybody convicted of manslaughter from early release.

'You only have to look at the remand population.'

There are about 950 prisoners convicted of manslaughter, which PC Harper's killers were convicted of, although the number eligible for early release is thought to be around 500.

Those who support keeping Cole and Bowers behind bars say the Government should look at banning the early release of anyone convicted of manslaughter.

But ministers have claimed this would risk prisons becoming full, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying last week he had 'pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do' by exempting 1,000 rapists, child sex offenders and groomers from eligibility for early release.

Downing Street doubled down on the comments yesterday, insisting it couldn't block PC Harper's killers' early release.

One option officials were looking at was blocking the release of prisoners convicted of manslaughter of an emergency worker.

But Mr Burnham's spokesman said this was 'not a standalone offence' and it is understood officials have branded it a 'complete non-starter'.

This is because the move would be subject to a legal challenge that the government would likely lose as there is no specific offence for manslaughter of an emergency worker.

Asked whether ministers were accepting the situation as it stands, the spokesman said it was 'not possible to simply exclude one or two offenders', adding: 'I think you've seen from the Prime Minister's words that he's far from accepting the situation and as he wrote last week he wants to go even further.

'He's pushed hard on what more we could do and his focus now is on fixing the prison system long-term to avoid a repeat of this prison crisis so that it never happens again.'

It means the government still plans to release around 5,000 criminals early over ten months from October, including Cole and Bowers, to tackle prison overcrowding.

PC Harper, 28, died after investigating the theft of a £10,000 quad bike in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019.

Bowers and Cole, then 17, tried to escape in a car driven by Henry Long, 18.

PC Harper's ankles became caught in the car's tow rope and he was dragged along at 43mph. Long is not eligible for early release.

Christopher Bushnell, a former Thames Valley Police officer who was first on the scene of PC Harper's death, recalled how his killers showed no remorse in the dock during their trial and said it was 'absolutely outrageous' that they were set to be freed early.

Mr Bushnell, who retired from Thames Valley Police in 2022, said: 'We can't change the verdict.

'They got their sentences, which were pretty pitiful, to be fair. When I first heard a couple of weeks ago there was a chance they could be let out early, I was shaking. It brought everything back.

'To think they could be released early is absolutely outrageous. I'm angry with them, but I'm also angry with the Government. They're spitting in the face of police officers.'

Aileen O'Connor, Chair of Thames Valley Police Federation, started the petition which by yesterday afternoon had amassed more than 880,000 signatures.

She said: 'The public are speaking loudly and clearly. They agree with us that the Government is firmly on the wrong side of this.

'The silence from the Government on this is deafening. What they are doing is indefensible. And they simply cannot defend it. They must listen. The Prime Minister must listen.

'If you kill a police officer there should be no early release. No ifs. No buts.'

She added: 'We are seeking all legal avenues...Whatever happens, we will throw everything we can at this to make sure that those responsible for killing Andrew Harper in the execution of his duty remain firmly behind bars.'