The early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers has been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice, sparking outrage despite widespread public outcry. Harper, a 28-year-old police officer, tragically lost his life in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. He was caught in a strap attached to a car and dragged down a country road by three teenage suspects fleeing the scene.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 17 at the time, were passengers in the car and received 13-year custodial sentences for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. The Ministry of Justice stated that both individuals may become eligible for early release halfway through their sentences.
Recent plans for the early release of Cole and Bowers have caused significant public backlash, with Lissie Harper, Andrew’s widow, expressing her disgust and disappointment at the decision. The new Sentencing Act, effective in September, is set to see around 6,000 criminals released early, excluding the driver Henry Long, who was sentenced to 16 years for his involvement in PC Harper’s death.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg voiced his disappointment with the government’s decision, emphasizing that under the new law named after Harper, the killers would receive life sentences if convicted today. Harper’s widow has been advocating for stricter penalties for those responsible for the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty, leading to the introduction of Harper’s Law in the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act.
The law mandates life sentences for individuals who cause the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty but does not apply retroactively, meaning Harper’s killers cannot have their sentences extended. The law aims to protect police officers, prison officers, firefighters, and paramedics serving their communities.