More than half a million individuals have signed a petition urging the Government to take steps to ensure that the individuals responsible for the death of PC Andrew Harper remain incarcerated.
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were found guilty of manslaughter in 2020 in connection with the tragic incident involving PC Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, in 2019.
It is estimated that around 5,000 individuals will be released early due to changes in sentencing policies, a decrease from the initially projected 6,000, as rapists and serious child sex offenders have been excluded from the scheme aimed at addressing prison overcrowding. Despite this, Cole and Bowers are still eligible for potential release halfway through their 13-year prison terms.
In contrast, the driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release under the Government’s initiative. PC Harper’s family has expressed dismay and frustration at the decision not to exempt Cole and Bowers from the program as well.
Both Conservative and Labour administrations have implemented early release programs in response to capacity strains in British correctional facilities. The Institute for Government reported that men’s prisons are currently operating at about 97% capacity, a decrease from the 99% level observed in the summer of 2024.
PC Harper, aged 28, had responded to a report of theft near Stanford Dingley in Berkshire on August 15, 2019. While chasing the suspects in a stolen quad bike towed by a SEAT Toledo, he got entangled in a strap and was dragged approximately one mile, leading to his tragic death that night. His widow, Lissie, successfully campaigned for stricter penalties for those responsible for the death of emergency personnel on duty.
The potential release of Bowers and Cole under the scheme sparked outrage and prompted a petition initiated by Aileen O’Connor, chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation.
O’Connor expressed, “This decision reopens old wounds that have never fully healed. It is a disrespect to Andrew’s family, his friends, his colleagues, and the entire law enforcement community. Repeatedly, they have had to endure the pain of reliving their loss while witnessing a justice system they trusted fail to acknowledge the unique sacrifices made by those who serve and safeguard the public. Police officers courageously confront danger daily, knowing they may never return home to their loved ones. For the Government to exclude the perpetrators of crimes against police officers from these safeguards sends a troubling message about the value placed on those who make such sacrifices.”
Lissie Harper, PC Harper’s widow, has urged the government to support the petition, stating, “Hopefully, we can compel the current government to reconsider and understand that individuals like these should not be reintegrated into society. Justice must mean serving the appropriate sentence given.”
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