Fifty police chiefs have told Andy Burnham to explore 'every available lawful avenue' to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers behind bars. The senior officers penned an open letter to the new Prime Minister criticising the Government's plan to let two of the teens who killed the hero cop get out of jail early to free up space in Britain's overcrowded prisons.
PC Harper's killers face early release
PC Harper, 28, was dragged to his death by a car down a country road as he tried to stop three teens stealing a quad bike in Berkshire in 2019. More than 900,000 people have signed a petition demanding two of the culprits Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole - who were convicted of the officer's manslaughter - stay behind bars. They are set to be free after serving just half of their 13-year sentences. The keep-them-in-jail demand was led by Britain's top cop - Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
Letter criticises early release scheme
The letter acknowledged Burnham's hope that his ministers can find a way to keep the pair behind bars while pressing ahead with a wider early release scheme. But it said: "When the state asks people to run towards danger on behalf of the public they should be able to trust that the justice system will stand behind them when the worst happens. PC Andrew Harper's case also raises a wider question.
"When someone is sentenced for an exceptionally serious offence, how much confidence can victims, bereaved families and the public place in that sentence if subsequent changes to release arrangements result in an offender being released significantly earlier than originally anticipated? This question extends far beyond policing. Families across the country are now facing the distress of learning that offenders may be released earlier than they understood when sentence was passed."
They added: "We do not suggest that the grief of a police family is greater than that of any other bereaved family, nor that the life of an emergency worker has greater value. Our concern is for all victims and families affected by serious offending sentencing changes."
Police demand legal changes
The letter said PC Harper died 'protecting the public and serving his community' prompting his widow Lissie to successfully campaign for a change in the law to recognise the 'exceptional risks emergency workers take while protecting others'. "Those who serve and protect the public should know that the justice system recognises the risks they take on society's behalf," the police chiefs said.
"Victims and bereaved families should be confident that sentences imposed for the most serious offences retain meaning and that public protection remains a central consideration when release decisions are made. There is a profound strength of feeling across policing about those responsible for PC Andrew Harper's death benefiting from arrangements that could see them released substantially earlier than expected.
"Officers and staff understand that the law must be applied as it stands. But they will question what message this sends about the value placed on their service and sacrifice when they put themselves in harm's way to protect others."
Police officers and staff see first-hand the impact serious crime has on victims and their families. They support people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives and ask them to place their trust in the justice system. That trust is vital and should not be weakened.
"We are also collectively concerned that an approach to early release which does not sufficiently distinguish the most serious offending risks undermining public safety, victim confidence and wider confidence in the criminal justice system."
The cops have asked the Government to examine 'every lawful option' to block the killers' early release. They also want it to change the law on early releases to stop villains exploiting it if they have 'caused a death, committed exceptionally serious violence' or present an 'ongoing risk to individuals or communities'.
"There should be explicit consideration of public protection, victim impact and community safety before release arrangements are amended," the officers said. "This principle should also apply to serious offences where there is a continuing risk of harm to victims or the public, including serious violence against women and girls, stalking and harassment.
"This is not simply a question of punishment. It is a question of ensuring that public protection, victim confidence and community safety remain central to decisions that may substantially reduce the time an offender spends in custody."
The cops said 'victims and bereaved families must be properly considered whenever significant changes are made to sentencing or release arrangements'. "There should also be consideration of the impact that significant changes to release policy may have on victims, public protection, policing and confidence in the justice system," they added. "The public should be able to trust that when a court passes sentence for the most serious crimes, victims, public protection and confidence in the justice system remain at the heart of any subsequent decisions about release."
