More than half a million individuals have signed a petition urging the Government to take action to prevent the release of PC Andrew Harper’s murderers.
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were found guilty of manslaughter in 2020 in connection with the tragic death of PC Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, in 2019.
Around 5,000 prisoners are set to be released early due to changes in sentencing guidelines, a decrease from the initial estimate of 6,000, after excluding rapists and “serious” child sex offenders from the program aimed at addressing prison overcrowding. Despite this, Cole and Bowers could still be released halfway through their 13-year prison terms.
The driver of the vehicle involved, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release. PC Harper’s family has expressed dismay over the decision not to exclude Cole and Bowers from the release scheme.
Both Conservative and Labour administrations have implemented early release programs to alleviate prison overcrowding in the UK. According to the Institute for Government, male prisons are currently operating at around 97% capacity, down from 99% in the summer of 2024.
PC Harper, aged 28, was responding to a theft incident near Stanford Dingley in Berkshire on August 15, 2019. During the pursuit of suspects in a stolen vehicle towing a quad bike, he was tragically entangled in a strap and dragged over a mile, resulting in his death. His widow, Lissie, successfully campaigned for tougher penalties for those responsible for the manslaughter of emergency service personnel on duty.
Outrage over Bowers and Cole’s potential release led to a petition initiated by Aileen O’Connor, chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation. O’Connor criticized the decision, stating that it reopened old wounds for PC Harper’s family and the policing community.
Lissie Harper, widow of PC Harper, has urged the government to support the petition, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that justice is served and that individuals convicted of such crimes remain incarcerated.
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