The widow of hero police officer PC Andrew Harper has condemned the “deplorable” Labour Government after it emerged that two of the men convicted over his death are expected to be released early from prison.
Amid a growing political row over Labour’s early-release justice policy, Lissie Harper accused ministers of overlooking the lasting devastation endured by the families of victims.
Mrs Harper and her childhood sweetheart had been married for just four weeks when 28-year-old PC Harper was dragged to his death in 2019 as three teenagers attempted to steal a quad bike.
Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle involved in PC Harper’s killing, was jailed for 16 years and is not eligible for release under the scheme.
However, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and were both 17 at the time, received 13-year custody sentences for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. They are now expected to leave prison this year.
In a powerful statement likely to intensify pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham — especially after two of his ministers were caught laughing about the policy — Mrs 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.
PC Andrew Harper and Lissie Harper were married just four weeks before the Thames Valley Police officer was killed in 2019
Widow Mrs Harper today hit out at the plan to release two of his killers early
‘It is deplorable to me that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable.’
Mrs Harper, who was awarded an MBE for campaigning in his memory, said she felt ‘forgotten’ by the politicians who helped strengthen the law protecting frontline emergency service workers.
She added: ‘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.
‘When I fought for Harper’s Law, I was supported not only by the Conservative government of the day but by the Labour Party too.
‘They pledged to support our cause and agreed that those who kill emergency workers should face tougher sentences because some crimes are so grave they demand meaningful punishment.
‘That cross party support helped make Harper’s Law a reality. Today, it feels forgotten.
‘For victims’ families, this is not about politics. It is about whether a sentence means what a judge says it means.
‘It is about whether justice is something we truly believe in, or something that can be negotiated away when it becomes inconvenient.
‘Andrew deserves better. Every victim deserves better.
‘And the British public deserve a justice system they can have faith in.’
Mrs Harper met Conservative and Labour politicians as part of her successful campaign to create a law in her late husband’s memory
Mr Burnham today said he will review the early prisoner release policy, designed to ease pressure on the jail population, as he came under mounting pressure to act – including from the head of PC Harper’s Thames Valley Police.
Bowers and Cole, both 17 at the time, were passengers in the car that dragged PC Harper along the road after his ankles got caught in their towrope as he bravely tried to stop them stealing a quad bike.
The police officer, who was 28, had been due to clock off and begin his honeymoon following his recent marriage, but was determined to intervene after receiving the call in the early hours of August 15, 2019, near Sulhamstead in Berkshire.
The thieves tried to escape in a car driven by the third killer, Long, but ensnared PC Harper, pulling him down the winding country road at speed.
PC Harper’s injuries were so grave that those arriving on scene initially thought they had come across a deer carcass.
Two of the killers, who showed little remorse, are now due for release as part of Labour’s attempts to ease chronic prison overcrowding, a decision met with anger by PC Harper’s family, the policing community and politicians.
Aileen O’Connor, chair of Thames Valley Police Federation, representing colleagues from PC Harper’s constabulary, said: ‘The killers of PC Andrew Harper should be kept where they belong… behind bars.
‘Police across Thames Valley – and indeed the country – will be disgusted at the prospect of these smirking lowlifes being free to roam the streets.
Henry Long, left, Jessie Cole, centre, and Albert Bowers, right, were jailed over PC Harper’s death
‘These killers have never shown any remorse for their horrific and deadly actions that night.
‘Andrew’s wife Lissie and his whole family are serving a life sentence. The least we can expect is that his killers serve their whole sentence. However poor it already is.
‘We will be taking this matter up with the Police Minister, the Home Secretary and the new Prime Minister. We will not stop. Andrew deserves nothing less.
‘What message does this send about the worth of a life of a police officer? The Government and the parole board must reconsider any plans to release Andrew’s killers early.
‘And they must do it now – No ifs, no buts.’
Nick Timothy, the Tories’ shadow justice secretary, called on Labour to ‘stop the release of vile criminals like these killers’.
He said: ‘Labour said they would not reduce sentences for the most heinous crimes.
‘It would be an absolute disgrace if the killers of PC Andrew Harper get out of prison early.’
The Harpers had been married for just four weeks when PC Harper was killed
Bowers and Cole are among thousands of criminals set to benefit from Labour’s Sentencing Act, part of a long-term plan to reduce the prison population.
From September, it will allow violent and sexual offenders to be released after serving just half their sentence, rather than the current two-thirds.
Other offenders could be freed after serving just a third of the punishment imposed by a court if they demonstrate good behaviour while in jail.
Murderers will not be considered because they are given a mandatory life term, with a minimum number of years they must serve.
Long is not eligible for early release under the scheme, but will be able to seek parole after half his sentence.
A campaign after sentencing led to the passing of ‘Harper’s Law’, which introduced a mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of killing emergency workers while committing a crime.
But it is not retrospective, meaning PC Harper’s killers cannot have their sentences extended.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: ‘Under the law that bears Andrew’s name, if his killers were convicted today, they would be receiving life sentences.
‘For this reason, for them to be released early under the new Sentencing Act legislation feels wrong.
‘I have written to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Justice Secretary to make my opinion on this clear.’
Claire Waxman, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to review the prisoner early release scheme before the first releases take place in September.
‘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.’
Debbie Adlam, PC Harper’s mother, said the prospect of two of her son’s killers being released early was an ‘insult beyond anything able to be put into words’.
‘It makes me feel sick,’ she told the Telegraph.
‘Andrew’s life doesn’t get to come back. It feels like a slap in the face and an insult.
‘People are getting a free pass for crime in this country. I like to try to be proud of my country, but this isn’t something to be proud of. There’s a lot going wrong.’
Meanwhile new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was forced to apologise for comments about the early release of prisoners which were picked up by a microphone.
Mr Streeting made the remarks in a conversation with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and the new Justice Secretary Alex Norris on Tuesday.
In the overheard comments, Mr Streeting suggested to Ms Mahmood that Mr Norris was ‘the enemy now’ and ‘wants to let them all out’.
Mr Streeting said on X that the remark was referencing a joke shared between former Conservative prime minister Theresa May and ex-chancellor and home secretary Kenneth Clarke.
He wrote: ‘I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Justice Secretary – it was a reference to an old May/Clarke joke.
‘But I appreciate these are very serious issues and am sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.’
Ms Mahmood also said there was ‘no ill intent’ about the ‘ribbing’ of Mr Norris.
Mr Burnham subsequently said the comments were not acceptable.
