Fifty police chiefs from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to pursue “every legal option” to prevent the early release of the men convicted in the death of PC Andrew Harper. The 28-year-old officer suffered fatal injuries in 2019 while on duty in Berkshire, where he was dragged behind a getaway car used by three teenagers fleeing the scene of a quad bike theft.
The intervention follows recent remarks from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who stated he was “confident” that the early release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, currently scheduled for January, could be prevented. The police leaders welcomed this commitment, noting that it provides a vital opportunity to review all lawful avenues in the Harper case while ensuring that similar concerns regarding the treatment of offenders involved in the deaths of emergency workers are addressed in the future.
In response to the open letter, Downing Street pointed to earlier comments made by the Prime Minister, in which he pledged to do “everything in his power” to address the situation. Debbie Adlam, the mother of PC Harper, recently spoke with a senior official at No 10 and was told the government is committed to finding a resolution to keep the pair in custody. Speaking to Breakfast, Adlam said the call gave her a sense of hope, though she added, “I can’t be too hopeful.” She clarified that she is not seeking a “special case” for her son, but rather advocating for a policy where the killers of all emergency workers are exempt from early release schemes.
The police chiefs also called on the government to put greater consideration into the specific crimes committed by prisoners when altering their sentences. They argued that where an offender has caused a death, committed exceptionally serious violence, or presents an ongoing risk to individuals or communities, there should be explicit consideration of public protection, victim impact, and community safety before release arrangements are amended. The letter emphasized that this is not merely a question of punishment, but a matter of ensuring that public confidence remains central to decisions that significantly reduce time spent in custody.
The letter, released on Tuesday evening, warned that the early release of those involved in the death of an officer could cast doubt over the value placed on the service and sacrifice of police officers who put themselves in harm’s way. The chiefs outlined three primary requests: pursuing every lawful option to stop the release of PC Harper’s killers, increasing scrutiny of offender backgrounds during sentence reviews, and ensuring that victims and bereaved families are properly considered whenever significant changes are made to sentencing or release arrangements.
Under current changes to the Sentencing Act, Cole and Bowers—who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020—will become eligible for release after serving half of their sentences. A third man involved in the incident, the vehicle driver Henry Long, was given a 16-year extended determinate sentence and is not eligible for this specific early release scheme.
The government’s broader early release initiative, designed to mitigate prison overcrowding, is expected to see approximately 5,000 people released. This figure is a reduction from an initial estimate of 6,000, following the introduction of exemptions for those convicted of the most serious crimes, including rape, child sex offences, and grooming. Police leaders are now pushing for the government to extend this logic to include those who have taken the lives of emergency service workers.
The ongoing debate highlights the tension between managing prison capacity and maintaining public trust in the justice system. As the January deadline approaches, the pressure on the Prime Minister to navigate these legal complexities remains high. The police chiefs’ intervention serves as a formal request to prioritize the protection of the public and the dignity of those who have died in the line of duty.
The case of PC Harper remains a significant touchstone for law enforcement agencies across the UK. By demanding a more rigorous approach to sentencing adjustments, the police leadership is signaling that the sacrifice of officers must be reflected in how the state handles the release of those responsible for their deaths.
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