A campaign calling for the killers of PC Andrew Harper to remain in prison has surged past one million signatures, intensifying pressure on Andy Burnham to ensure they stay behind bars.
PC Harper, a 28-year-old Thames Valley Police officer, died while on duty after responding to reports of a quadbike theft near Stanford Dingley in Berkshire in August 2019.
During the pursuit of the thieves, who were travelling in a SEAT Toledo, PC Harper’s foot became entangled in a tow rope attached to the vehicle, and he was dragged for more than a mile along the road.
In 2020, driver Henry Long was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while passengers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole each received 13-year sentences for manslaughter.
However, Bowers and Cole are now eligible for early release under a government measure aimed at easing overcrowding across the prison estate.
The petition, launched by Aileen O’Connor, chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, is seeking to prevent the pair from being freed early.
By Friday morning, the campaign had attracted more than one million signatures.
Mr Burnham is facing mounting calls to intervene before the early release scheme comes into effect in October.
PC Harper’s grieving mother said that she would be ‘absolutely furious’ if the Prime Minister went back on his pledge to block their early release.
PC Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, was killed in August 2019 when responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, pictured in 2020, are set to be freed from prison under Labour’s early release scheme
Debbie Adlam has urged the Prime Minister not to allow her son’s killers early release from prison
Debbie Adlam told Our News Outlet’s Trial podcast: ‘This would have been all for nothing, I would just be absolutely furious because Andrew’s life was ended in such a horrific way.
‘The country expects justice and it just seems like we’re being pushed off a cliff right now.
‘I really don’t know how I would get by if that was to happen.’
She added that she was ‘absolutely drained’ by the indecision from Downing Street about whether Cole and Bowers would remain behind bars and not be released in January.
The scheme would also see 5,000 people to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers exempted rapists and ‘serious’ child sex offenders.
But the potential early release for Cole and Bowers has prompted widespread criticism from Police Federations and 50 policing leaders across the UK.
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.
Suffolk Police Federation Chair, Darren Harris said: ‘Every officer who puts on a uniform knows there are occasions when they may have to put themselves in harm’s way.’
‘That is part of the responsibility we accept when we become police officers.
‘But there also has to be confidence that the system will stand behind us when something goes catastrophically wrong.
‘Officers and their families need to know that the sacrifice involved in this job is understood.
‘They need to know that an officer’s life is not treated as an unfortunate footnote when decisions are made about sentencing and release.’
Andy Burnham has been urged not to go back on his pledge to find a way to keep PC Harper’s killer’s behind bars
Following the police officer’s death, Harper’s Law was introduced which gives mandatory life sentences where an emergency worker in unlawfully killed in the line of duty.
A Thames Valley Police Federation spokesperson said: ‘The petition to stop the early release from jail of PC Andrew Harper’s killers has reached 1 million signatures.
‘We would like to thank each and every person who has signed our petition for their support on this important issue.
‘With the 7th 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.’
