SerpApi.Org
The widow of Pc Andrew Harper has attacked Labour’s early release of prisoners after it emerged that her husband’s killers could soon be freed.
Lissie Harper criticised the Government’s “deplorable” early release scheme after The Telegraph revealed that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole could be released halfway through their sentences.
In a written statement, she accused politicians of “making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences for victims’ families like mine”, and said “Andrew deserves better”.
She made the comments after Andy Burnham said he would review the early release of the killers.
Bowers and Cole were each jailed for 13 years in 2020 for manslaughter. They had been in a car that dragged Pc Harper, 28, for more than a mile along country roads after the officer’s ankles became caught in a tow rope. The driver was jailed for 16 years and is not eligible for early release.
The sentences prompted a national outcry and a campaign for Harper’s Law, which introduced a mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of the murder or manslaughter of emergency workers while committing a crime.
The campaign was led by Mrs Harper. The Labour Party backed it at the time, and supported Conservatives’ amendments to enact the mandatory life sentences.
However, in her statement on Wednesday, Pc Harper’s widow 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 continued: “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.”
Mrs Harper concluded: “Andrew deserves better. Every victim deserves better. And the British public deserve a justice system they can have faith in.”
Debbie Adlam, Pc Harper’s mother, told The Telegraph that the potential early release of the killers was an “insult beyond anything able to be put into words”.
Referring to the case, Mr Burnham told reporters in Bath: “On the broader issue, I feel for the family, it’s an appalling crime that was committed. The main perpetrator [driver Henry Long] will not be subject to any early release.
“Of course, others involved have potentially been identified. But I’ve spoken to the new Justice Secretary [Alex Norris]. We will review the policy together and make further statements in due course.”
Bowers and Cole are among more than 5,000 criminals due to be freed early under the Labour scheme when the policy becomes operational in September.
The policy allows serious criminals – including killers, rapists and child groomers – to be eligible for release halfway through their sentences rather than two-thirds of the way through, provided they have not committed any serious rule breaches while in prison.
Criminals convicted of less serious offences are eligible to be freed as little as a third of the way through their sentences.
Pc Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, died after going to investigate the theft of a quad bike in August 2019. The pair attempted to flee the scene in a car driven by Henry Long.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Adlam said: “It makes me feel sick. 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.”
Aileen O’Connor, the chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation, urged the Government to block the early release of Pc Harper’s killers, saying they 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,” she said. “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.”
Police officers demand killers stay in jail
It is understood that Police Federation branches in each of the 43 forces in England and Wales will post pictures of Pc Harper on their social media in support of their demands that the Government halt his killers’ early release.
Matthew Barber, the police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, said he had written to Mr Burnham urging him to introduce emergency legislation to block the early release of Pc Harper’s killers. He also called on the Prime Minister to “reduce the worst effects ... on the criminal justice system” of the Sentencing Act 2026, which enshrined the changes in law.
He said: “The prospect of Andrew Harper’s killers being released early is deeply troubling. The public rightly expects serious offenders to serve sentences that reflect the gravity of their crimes.”
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Before Mr Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday, sources confirmed that he was reviewing whether to exempt rapists and child groomers in the face of the growing backlash over the plans. However, the early release scheme is written into law via the sentencing act.
Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, has written to Mr Norris urging him to adopt emergency legislation proposed by the Tories to exempt rapists and paedophiles from the scheme.
An analysis of Ministry of Justice figures by the Conservatives estimated almost 2,500 rapists and paedophiles would be eligible for release in September, including more than 100 rapists jailed for more than 15 years.
Nearly 9,000 victims of serious sexual or violent crimes have been warned that their attackers will be released early from prison from September.
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