PC Andrew Harper’s killers are set to be released early from prison, despite significant public outrage. Harper, a 28-year-old police officer, tragically lost his life while responding to a quad bike theft incident in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. He was fatally injured after being caught in a strap attached to a car and dragged down a country road by three teenage suspects fleeing the scene.
The passengers in the car, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were both 17 at the time, were sentenced to 13 years in custody for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. The Ministry of Justice has now confirmed that these individuals may become eligible for early release halfway through their sentences.
Plans to release Cole and Bowers halfway through their 13-year jail terms were temporarily halted but have now been reinstated after a review. This decision has sparked outrage from Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Harper, who expressed her deep disappointment and anger at the news.
Under the upcoming Sentencing Act, approximately 6,000 criminals, including the driver Henry Long, responsible for Harper’s death, are expected to be released early from prison. Long, who received a 16-year sentence, will not be eligible for early release. The early release process is scheduled to commence in October of this year.
Thames Valley Police has condemned the decision to release PC Harper’s killers early, with Chief Constable Jason Hogg expressing deep disappointment and solidarity with the Harper family. The move has raised concerns among law enforcement officers and emergency service workers who risk their lives to protect and serve their communities.
Following PC Harper’s tragic death, his widow campaigned for legal changes resulting in Harper’s Law, a part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. This law extends mandatory life sentences to individuals who commit manslaughter against emergency workers on duty, including police officers, prison officers, firefighters, and paramedics. However, this measure does not apply retrospectively, meaning that PC Harper’s killers cannot have their sentences extended.
