The widow of police officer Andrew Harper has said it is “deplorable” that two of his killers are being considered for early release under a new government scheme. Lissie Harper said politicians are “making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences” for victims' families.
Background to the case
Pc Harper was 28 when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle that caused his death, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for early release. However, passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were handed 13-year sentences for manslaughter in 2020, may now be released halfway through their terms, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed, rather than the two-thirds set by the judge.
Lissie Harper's statement
In a statement, Lissie Harper said: “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.”
She said cross-party support that helped secure Harper’s Law in his honour “feels forgotten”. The law, which she campaigned for, extends mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty, but is not retrospective.
Government response
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would review the policy with the newly appointed justice secretary before it proceeds. “I can’t say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward.”
Under the new Sentencing Act, set to come into force in September, some 6,000 criminals are set to be released early. The government has not ruled out whether killers, rapists and paedophiles will be exempt.
Victims’ commissioner Claire Waxman said the review provides an “important opportunity” to ensure safeguards, adding: “As things stand, I do not have confidence that these releases can be managed in a way that fully safeguards victims, protects the public and maintains confidence in the justice system.”
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said Pc Harper’s death has had a “lasting impact” and that early release “feels wrong”.
