Police Threaten Court Battle to Stop Release of PC Andrew Harper’s K-i-llers, Declaring ‘We Will Not Stop’
PM Andy Burnham faces being taken to court by furious cops for failing to halt the early release of two of hero PC Andrew Harper’s killers.
A Police Federation chief revealed they are poised to take legal action unless Mr Burnham reverses the decision.
PC Andrew Harper died trying to stop quad bike thievesCredit: PA
Killers Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert BowersCredit: PA
Thames Valley chair Aileen O’Connor called the ruling “an insult to Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues” and said “Andy Burnham may be on his holidays but we won’t rest on this.”
PC Harper’s family are understood to be backing the move.
A petition to stop his killers being let out passed 100,000 verified signatures.
The Government has given the green light for thousands of killers, thugs and paedophiles to leave jail.
It means two of PC Harper’s killers — Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole — will be eligible for release within months.
Mr Burnham had raised hopes he could block the move but decided prisons are too full to exclude manslaughter from the scheme.
Ms O’Connor, of Thames Valley Police Federation, said the decision was a betrayal of PC Harper’s legacy.
He died trying to stop then-teen quad bike thieves Bowers, Cole and Henry Long in Berkshire on August 15, 2019.
It means two of PC Harper’s killers — Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole — will be eligible for release within months.
Mr Burnham had raised hopes he could block the move but decided prisons are too full to exclude manslaughter from the scheme.
Ms O’Connor, of Thames Valley Police Federation, said the decision was a betrayal of PC Harper’s legacy.
He died trying to stop then-teen quad bike thieves Bowers, Cole and Henry Long in Berkshire on August 15, 2019.
PM Andy Burnham faces being taken to court by furious copsCredit: Crown Copyright
Lissie and Andrew Harper on their wedding dayCredit: PA
Writing in The Sun, she challenges the PM and Justice Secretary Alex Norris to stand before PC Harper’s widow Lissie and his family “and explain why those responsible for killing a police officer should be eligible for early release”.
She adds: “Try telling the officers who attended the scene where Andrew died and witnessed the horrific consequences of that crime.”
She also told LBC News: “I will throw everything I can at this through a proper legal challenge from KCs, barristers, you name it.
“I will do what I have to do to protect Andrew Harper’s legacy and further victims who don’t have a platform to come on national radio or TV to put across their point.
“There are silent victims here in the families of individuals who have been killed who will also be outraged at this.”
A petition launched by Ms O’Connor passed 100,000 verified signatures on Tuesday evening.
Lissie said she was ‘beyond appalled’ Andrew’s killers are getting early releaseCredit: PA
Thames Valley chair Aileen O’Connor called the ruling ‘an insult to Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues’Credit: Supplied
It demands Mr Burnham and Mr Norris “explain why those responsible” for the killing should be eligible for release.
After 100,000 signatures, petitions are considered for debate in Parliament.
Ms O’Connor added online: “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.”
Mr Norris made a personal call to PC Harper’s mum Debbie Adlam explaining that the decision was made due to prison overcrowding.
But Ms Adlam said her family were “bitterly disappointed”.
She added: “I don’t feel like we should be in this position. It’s not somewhere we would expect to be.
“We really feel we should have more support than this and, you know, Andrew deserves better than this and so do we.
“I think from our perspective we need to know that people are going to be keeping in touch and letting us know what’s going on.”
The Sentencing Act was passed in January.
PC Harper’s widow Lissie said she was ‘disgusted’ that her husband’s killers will be releasedCredit: PA
The PM failed to halt the early release of two of hero PC Andrew Harper’s killersCredit: PA:Press Association
It means offenders on standard fixed sentences and due to be released after half their term will now leave after a third.
But violent offenders who would have been freed at two thirds of a sentence will now be out after half.
Mr Norris told Sky News: “Were we not to make these changes, then we would run out of prison places in October or November.”
“I know that’s difficult. I know that’s created harm, and it’s not Lissie Harper’s fault, and I’m sorry that she’s been put into this situation as a result.”
The Prison Governors’ Association said the late changes to policy had put “huge pressure” on staff which could make mistakes “more likely”.
Ministers are also under pressure to send back more than 10,000 foreign criminals.
Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy urged the repeal of human rights laws that prevent them being returned.
Speaking on Times Radio this morning, O’Connor said: “I feel sick to my stomach, if I’m really honest with you.
“I’ve had a gut wrenching feeling in my stomach the past couple of weeks with this, and it doesn’t go away.
“And arguably, I would say that many of my members across Thames Valley also have this gut wrenching feeling, even at the prospect of these two killers being released in the space of weeks, potentially.”
Meanwhile, a minister said the Government “cannot carve out every single offence people might want us to.”
It comes amid claims that a loophole means historical child sex abusers will still be eligible for early release from prison.
Justice minister Jake Richards told Sky News: “Well, we’ve set out and published all the offences which have been now carved out of the new scheme that begins in October.
“Those are all online, several pages. But what we have been very clear is that we cannot carve out every single offence that people might want us to do so.
“We would like to do that, the Prime Minister has been very clear in his public pronouncements on this.”
Mr Richards acknowledged the “unimaginable pain” of the deceased officer’s family but said “difficult decisions” must be made because law and order could “collapse” without a functioning prison system.
Asked to respond to Aileen O’Connor’s threat of legal action, he told Sky News: “Well, look, we understand that people are angry.
“The Harper family are, of course, angry. The police are angry too.
“We’re angry that we’re in this situation where we face the unenviable position of having to make sure that we have a sustainable prison system, which is so vital to a functioning law and order system in our country, but also that we do right by victims as far as possible.”
