A petition to stop Pc Harper's killers from being released early has surpassed one million signatures. Pc Harper was fatally injured in the line of duty in 2019 when he got caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and was dragged down a country road as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
Killers' release under scheme
Two of Pc Harper's killers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, are set to be released halfway through their sentences next year under the Government's early release scheme. The pair were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020.
The scheme has faced widespread condemnation, with 5,000 people expected to be released early under sentencing changes - down from 6,000 after ministers exempted rapists and "serious" child sex offenders.
Petition and political pressure
As of Friday morning, an online petition set up by Aileen O'Connor, chairwoman of Thames Valley Police Federation, calling against the early release of Bowers and Cole had reached more than one million signatures. The petition comes as the Prime Minister has been facing increasing pressure from the officer's family and the police not to allow the pair to be freed in January under existing plans.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said this week that he "wouldn't forgive myself" if he did not try to lessen the "anguish" of the officer's family. In an interview with LBC, Mr Burnham was asked if he had a message for Aimee Harper, the sister of Pc Harper, who had shared with the broadcaster her experience of sitting in the courtroom with his killers.
Asked what he would directly say to Ms Harper, Mr Burnham replied: "That I hear you, I feel for you. I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't do everything I possibly could to try and lessen your anguish, and I am doing that. I am turning over every stone. I am looking at everything. I am pushing the system to go further."
Review and police leaders' letter
Mr Burnham has ordered Justice Secretary Alex Norris to draw up plans to free up prison space for serious offenders, and said he is "increasingly confident" Pc Harper's killers will not be released early from their sentences as a result.
The Prime Minister has come under pressure from 50 policing leaders from across the UK to use "every lawful option" to prevent the early release of Cole and Bowers. A letter from chief constables and other law enforcement leaders also called on the Prime Minister to "establish an additional public protection safeguard" for the most serious offenders when future early release schemes are floated.
The leaders, who included Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Stephen Watson and National Crime Agency director general Graeme Biggar, also said families and victims "must be properly considered whenever significant changes are made to sentencing or release arrangements".
The Prime Minister ordered a review of the early release scheme under the Sentencing Act shortly after taking office, but while changes were announced to prevent rapists and paedophiles being released early, the measures did not cover Pc Harper's killers. Before this year's Sentencing Act, they would have served two-thirds of their term. Mr Burnham previously said he had "pushed the very limits" in the changes he had made to the early release scheme, but has now said he can go further.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police Federation said: "We would like to thank each and every person who has signed our petition for their support on this important issue. With the seventh anniversary of Andrew's death tomorrow, Thames Valley Police Federation have chosen to acknowledge this important milestone without fanfare, out of respect to his family at this difficult time."
