Andrew and Lissie Harper (Image: Supplied)
The widow of police hero Andrew Harper says that victims of crime “deserve better”, as it emerged two of his killers may be freed halfway through their sentences. Amid a row over Labour’s early release plan, Lissie Harper – who wed the PC a month before he was dragged to his death – branded the prospect of their freedom “deplorable”.
She declared: “Andrew deserves better. Every victim deserves better.”
PM Andy Burnham yesterday promised: “I will review the whole of this policy.”
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for the manslaughter of PC Harper, 28. But the pair are now eligible to be set free under the Ministry of Justice early release scheme. Henry Long, who was driving the car that pulled him along a winding country road at speed, was jailed for 16 years and will not be eligible to be freed under the policy.
Lissie – who was awarded an MBE for campaigning in her husband’s memory – 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. 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.
“Now – once again – politicians are making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences for victims’ families like mine.”
Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers could be set for early release (Image: PA)
Under the Sentencing Act due to come into force in September, 6,000 offenders are set to be freed. The government has yet to clarify if killers, rapists and paedophiles will be among those released.
Mr Burnham said: “All I can say is I will review the whole of this policy. Nobody can deny the pressure on prison places.
“I can give that assurance that every single part of this I will look into with the Justice Secretary. I can’t say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward.”
The national outcry at the PC’s killing resulted in Harper’s Law that introduced mandatory life sentences for offenders who kill emergency workers while committing a crime.
But his widow Lissie says that all now “feels forgotten”. She added: “Andrew deserves better. Every victim deserves better. And the British public deserve a justice system they can have faith in.”
PC Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, told the Express: “It was appalling to receive the update [that] this could happen. I’m basically waiting to find out at the end of August whether our offenders are included…but for any victim this is horrifying.”
On Wednesday, Mr Burnham reprimanded two Cabinet ministers for joking about the release scheme. He said it was unacceptable to make light of the effort to ease prison overcrowding.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood were caught on a live mic as they waited in a Downing Street garden for filming by broadcasters.
Andrew’s mum Debbie Adlam received word of the plans via an update from the MoJ (Image: PA)
Ms Mahmood approached Justice Secretary Alex Norris for a hug, saying “Can I be like a proud mum?” but Mr Streeting interjected: “You know he’s the enemy now.”
She said “No he’s not” and Mr Streeting added “He wants to let them all out!” as the pair laughed.
Asked if that was acceptable, Mr Burnham said on a visit to Bath: “No, it’s not and certainly that’s been acknowledged and apologies have been made.”
Kemi Badenoch accused his Cabinet of “joking about letting criminals out of prison early” and said her Tory party would “continue to fight this disgusting policy”.
She added: “If Andy Burnham wants to show real leadership, he will call a halt to Labour’s early release scheme immediately.
“The public were rightly outraged that grooming gang perpetrators were being let out of prison early, alongside other rapists and paedophiles. The public will be doubly disgusted when they see that the killers of PC Andrew Harper are also eligible for early release.
“My heart goes out to the victims and families of victims who are having to deal with this terrible situation. Our new Prime Minister must show he understands how painful this is to those involved, and how appalled the public are, and draw a line under this terrible policy.”
Mrs Adlam added: “Seeing ministers joking about ‘letting them all out’ appears to show contempt for what is such a serious issue affecting the lives of so many victims.”
PC Harper died on duty as he bravely tried to stop the escaping gang of thieves (Image: PA)
Bowers and Cole, then 17, were in the car that dragged PC Harper to his death after his ankles were caught in their towrope as he tried to stop them stealing a quad bike.
The officer had been due to clock off and begin his honeymoon but was keen to intervene after receiving the call early on August 15, 2019 near Sulhamstead, Berks.
PC Harper’s injuries were so severe that the first people on the scene initially thought they had found the carcass of a deer.
Aileen O’Connor, who chairs Thames Valley Police Federation and represents colleagues in PC Harper’s force, 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.”
Claire Waxman, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, said: “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.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the potential release “an insult to Andrew Harper’s memory and to police officers who put themselves at risk every day”.
He added: “These criminals were convicted of killing a serving police officer. They should not be getting released after just half their sentence.
“It has left PC Harper‘s widow understandably distraught. Once again, this Labour government is ignoring the wishes of the victims of crime. Their early release scheme allows rapists and serious criminals out of prison early and it must be urgently cancelled.”