Demands for action as early release of PC Harper’s killers looms
A first responder has accused Andy Burnham’s government of “spitting in the faces of police officers” after Downing Street claimed it cannot stop the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers, reports BritPanorama.
Former officer Chris Bushnell, who encountered PC Harper on the day he died while responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire in 2019, described the prospect of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers being released early as “absolutely outrageous.”
Downing Street is facing intense backlash, with over 880,000 signatures on a petition calling for the pair to remain incarcerated; Thames Valley Police Federation is also considering legal action to prevent their release.
On Monday night, PC Harper’s mother Debbie Adlam expressed her frustration to ITV News, stating she has not heard from the prime minister: “You want to tour the country, you want to meet the people. You haven’t even got in touch with me. How about coming to see me?”
PC Harper, aged 28, was tragically killed when he was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of a burglary. Bushnell, who was waiting in a lay-by for the suspects’ vehicle, witnessed the horrific event unfold.
Despite initial outrage following the incident, Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and, under current early release plans, are eligible for freedom in January, halfway through their 13-year sentences. The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence, without the possibility of early release.
An estimated 5,000 inmates are expected to benefit from early release under recent sentencing reforms, down from 6,000 following exemptions introduced in an urgent review of the scheme.
Amidst mounting pressure, Downing Street stated it is “not possible” to exempt “one or two offenders” convicted of manslaughter from early release. No 10 insisted Mr Burnham is “far from accepting the situation” but played down the chances of keeping Cole and Bowers behind bars.
The prime minister’s spokesperson elaborated: “He understands the public wants him to go further… but on the wider issue that prisons would have run out of space, police would stop making arrests, it would be impossible to lock up convicted offenders, and that would put public safety at untold risk.”
However, on Monday night, Sky News reported that Mr Burnham requested Justice Secretary Alex Norris to “work through further options to keep a greater number of the most serious offenders in prison, including the killers of PC Harper,” contradicting earlier statements from Downing Street.
Bushnell recounted the trauma of witnessing Harper’s death and described the court hearings as disheartening, remarking on the perceived lack of remorse from the offenders: “There was no remorse at all. It was almost a joke to them.”
He added that the possibility of Cole and Bowers being released early is not just infuriating but brings back the harrowing memories of his colleague’s death, stating: “To think they could be released early is absolutely outrageous. I’m angry with them, but I’m also angry with the government.”
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, expressed confidence that the government could free up more prison space and prevent anyone convicted of manslaughter from early release. He cited the large remand population as evidence of available capacity within the system.
This situation flows from Burnham’s recent declaration that he had “pushed to the very limits of what is possible” by excluding certain crimes from early release eligibility. These reforms were enacted after prisons narrowly avoided running out of space entirely last year, risking a full system breakdown that would hinder law enforcement.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson remarked on the tragic nature of PC Andrew Harper’s death, affirming that the government shares the police community’s anger over the situation. While acknowledging the introduction of Harper’s Law, which mandates life sentences for those killing emergency workers, they maintained that further restrictions could compromise prison capacity and ultimately public safety.
The complex balance between justice and public safety continues to be tested, reflecting the broader pressures on the UK’s judicial system.
