The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the killers of PC Andrew Harper will be eligible for early release from prison, despite public outcry. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were 17 at the time of the incident, received 13-year sentences for manslaughter in 2020. They could now be freed halfway through their terms, meaning release within months.
Widow's Reaction
Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper, expressed her fury, telling The Sun: “This is disgusting. I’m beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear Andrew’s killers are soon to be free.” She added: “The Government and justice system have not just let me down, they have added insult to injury. This is an utter betrayal, one I will not be able to forgive or forget.”
Details of the Case
PC Harper, 28, was fatally injured in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. He was dragged along a country road after becoming caught in a strap attached to the fleeing car. Cole and Bowers were passengers in the vehicle; the driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for the early release scheme.
Police Chief's Statement
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “I am beyond disappointed the Government is continuing to allow PC Andrew Harper’s killers to be released early from prison despite the overwhelming recent public outcry. It is simple: if Andrew’s killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name. They would not be eligible for early release. This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, not just in the Thames Valley, that puts themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve their community. We stand with Andrew’s family, the Police Federation, our Police and Crime Commissioner in our dismay and we will continue to lobby the Government to make the right decision.”
Harper's Law and Its Limits
Following her husband's death, Lissie Harper campaigned for harsher sentences for those who kill emergency workers. Harper's Law, introduced in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, mandates life sentences for such manslaughter. However, the law is not retrospective, so it does not apply to PC Harper's killers. The early release scheme, set to begin in October, will affect around 6,000 criminals under the new Sentencing Act.
