The widow of police officer Andrew Harper has described it as "deplorable" that two of his killers are being considered for early release. Lissie Harper said that politicians are "making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences" for the families of victims.
Details of the case
PC Harper was just 28 years old when he suffered fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle responsible for PC Harper's death, was handed a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for the scheme.
However, PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, revealed she had been informed that early release could be under consideration for Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and received 13-year custodial sentences for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020.
Lissie Harper's statement
PC Harper's widow Lissie Harper said in a statement: "It has taken me years to rebuild a life that was torn apart in a matter of moments. Years to pick up the pieces left behind by three men whose actions robbed Andrew of his life and stole our future.
"Now – once again – politicians are making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences for victims' families like mine.
"It is deplorable to me that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable. We speak of justice, accountability and standing with victims, yet decisions like this do the opposite.
"They tell victims their suffering matters less, and offenders that the punishment handed down by our courts is no longer what they will actually serve."
