- PC Andrew Harper, from Wallingford, died in 2019 when he was dragged by a car as three teenagers fled the scene of a Berkshire quad bike theft; Cole and Bowers were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter, while the driver, Henry Long, received 16 years and will not be eligible.
- Under updated plans to tackle prison overcrowding, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers would be eligible for release next year.
- The justice secretary said 5,000 extra releases - on top of the 4,500 prisoners who typically leave prison each month - would take place in 10 batches from October, and about 1,000 prisoners would now not be released early; he warned: “If we drew it any wider we would have a prison capacity crisis.”
- Under the revised plan, Cole and Bowers would be eligible for release next year, prompting anger from police and PC Harper's family.
- Harper's Law was placed in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, meaning his killers would not be eligible for early release if convicted today; PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam said: “It feels like we're letting Andrew down again.”
- Chief Constable Jason Hogg said he was “beyond disappointed” and called the decision “demoralising” for all police officers and emergency service workers.
- Aileen O'Connor of the Thames Valley Police Federation said officers were still “reliving” PC Harper's death; an officer who gave evidence said the killers were “unremorseful” and he was “devastated” by the possible early release.
The killers of PC Andrew Harper, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, remain eligible for early release under new prison overcrowding plans, igniting significant anger among law enforcement.123489
Harper, who died in 2019 after being dragged by a car during a quad bike theft, saw his killers sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020.
They will be eligible for release after serving half of their sentences.
The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for early release.
The revised plans announced by the government exclude prisoners convicted of serious crimes such as rape and child sex offences from early release, but manslaughter offenders like Cole and Bowers are still included.
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg expressed his disappointment, stating, "This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers."1314
Aileen O'Connor, chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, noted that many officers are still "reliving" PC Harper's death.151617
Following the announcement, Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, voiced her distress, saying, "It feels like we're letting Andrew down again."101112
The justice secretary indicated that the revised scheme would allow for 5,000 extra releases, but about 1,000 prisoners would now not be released early.567
Harper's Law, part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, would have prevented Cole and Bowers from early release had they been convicted today.
“Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said he was 'beyond disappointed,' calling the decision demoralising for officers and emergency workers. PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam reacted to Monday's announcement: 'It feels like we're letting Andrew down again,' while Harper's Law means the killers would not be eligible under the scheme if convicted today.”
