A Smack in the Face: Fury Erupts After Decision to Free K-i-llers of PC Andrew Harper Sparks Nationwide Backlash
NO police officer will forget where they were on that summer’s night in 2019 when the radio call came through about the death of our colleague PC Andrew Harper.
Harps had been brutally killed.
PC Andrew Harper was dragged by a car down a country road as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theftCredit: PA
Aileen O’Connor, Thames Valley Police Federation Chair, called the decision to free the thugs who killed him the ‘final betrayal’
Dragged by a car down a country road as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.
His injuries were catastrophic.
Nor will we forget the faces of Andrew’s smirking killers – Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers – as they attended the Old Bailey to be found guilty of his manslaughter.
These low lifes showed no remorse. They offered no apology.
Equally, neither will we forget the Government’s inexplicable and unforgivable decision to allow those who kill police officers to be released early from jail.
It is a final betrayal from the politicians, who are supposed to be on our side.
A smack in the face to every one of us police officers across the United Kingdom, who are out there now risking our lives to keep you, the public, safe.
I am absolutely outraged that Justice Secretary Alex Norris, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, have decided that killing a police officer in the execution of their duty is somehow less serious than other offences deemed too dangerous for early release.
Nor will we forget the faces of Andrew’s smirking killers – Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert BowersCredit: PA
PC Harper’s wife, Lissie, said it is ‘deplorable’ his killers are being considered for early releaseCredit: PA
Both said they wanted to do more to stop the release of two of the young men convicted of killing Harps after serving just 40 per cent of their 13-year tariffs.
They may have claimed they wanted to do more but facts matter. They did not.
Let me be clear now, on behalf of thousands of Thames Valley Police Officers.
I challenge the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary to stand before Andrew’s widow, Lissie, his parents, his brother, his loved ones, or indeed any police officer in this country.
Stand before them and explain why those responsible for killing a police officer should still be eligible for early release.
Try telling the officers who attended the scene where Andrew died on 15 August 2019 and witnessed the horrific consequences of that crime.
And the friends and colleagues who had to hear about Andrew’s death on their radio.
Explain to them why the life of a police officer does not warrant the same protection as other serious crimes under this legislation.
We will not forget the Government’s inexplicable and unforgivable decision to allow those who kill police officers to be released earlyCredit: PA:Press Association
Deborah Adlam, the mother of PC Harper, says her family is ‘paying the price’ after learning her son’s killers remain eligible for early releaseCredit: PA
This decision pours salt into wounds that have never healed.
It is an insult to Andrew’s family, his friends, his colleagues and the entire policing family.
Time and again they have been forced to relive their grief while watching a justice system that they trusted, fail to recognise the unique sacrifice made by those who serve and protect the public.
We stood side by side with Lissie as she successfully campaigned for Harper’s Law in Andrew’s name following their pitiful manslaughter sentences these three teenagers received.
As a result of the campaign, those who kill emergency service workers now receive mandatory life sentences.
If Andrew’s killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name.
They would not be eligible for early release.
I completely agree that rapists and child sexual offenders should not be released early from their sentences.
We stood side by side with Lissie as she successfully campaigned for Harper’s LawCredit: PA
If Andrew’s killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his nameCredit: PA
However, you cannot say in the next breath that people who kill people – and in particular police officers out there protecting society – can be subject to that release.
It’s perverse to say that, and it does not make sense. And that’s what I need to understand.
So what next?
We will throw everything at this through a proper legal challenge from KCs, barristers, you name it. Our colleagues will accept nothing less.
This decision is totally demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve their community.
And not just in Thames Valley, but right across the country.
We will do what we have to do to protect Andrew Harper’s legacy and other victims up and down the country who don’t have a platform to put their points across on radio, television and in newspapers.
Because make no mistake there are silent victims, families and loved ones of other individuals who have been killed, who will also be outraged at this.
We will do what we have to do to protect Andrew Harper’s legacyCredit: PA:Press Association
Lissie Harper lays a wreath at a memorial stone in ReadingCredit: PA
Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every day.
They run towards danger when everyone else is running away.
They do so knowing that they may never come home to their families.
For the Government to exclude the killers of police officers from these protections sends a deeply troubling message about the value placed on those who make that sacrifice.
Andrew Harper’s family deserved better. Every police officer in this country deserves better.
I will not stand by while the voices of Andrew’s family, his colleagues and police officers across this country continue to be ignored.
We will take this to Parliament. We will not stop. Andy Burnham may be on his holidays but we won’t rest on this.
And you can help us.
We have launched a petition – Stop the early release from jail of PC Andrew Harper’s killers – and would encourage all right-minded members of the public to please sign and share this link.
We will be working hard with both local and national politicians to right this wrong.
How dare ministers say the killing of a police officer is not serious enough to merit the stiffest of punishments.
If you kill a police officer there should be no early release. No ifs. No buts.
Somebody, somewhere, must finally listen.
