Widow of PC Andrew Harper Condemns 'Deplorable' Early Release of Prisoners as Two of Her Husband's Killers Face Freedom

PC Andrew Harper‘s widow has said it is “deplorable” that two of his killers could be released from prison early.

Lissie Harper – who married the officer just one month before his death – slammed politicians for making decisions that “tell victims their suffering matters less”.

PC Andrew Harper was just 28-years-old when he was killed Credit: PA Lissie Harper had married him just one month before his tragic death Credit: PA

Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for the

But the pair are now eligible to be freed just halfway through their sentences under the early release scheme.

In a written statement, the cop’s widow said: “It has taken me years to rebuild a life that was torn apart in a matter of moments.

“Years to pick up the pieces left behind by three men whose actions robbed Andrew of his life and stole our future.

“Now – once again – politicians are making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences for victims’ families like mine.

“It is deplorable to me that we have reached a point where releasing prisoners early is even considered acceptable. We speak of justice, accountability and standing with victims, yet decisions like this do the opposite.

Albert Bowers was jailed for manslaughter Credit: PA Jessie Cole was also jailed for manslaughter Credit: PA

“They tell victims their suffering matters less, and offenders that the punishment handed down by our courts is no longer what they will actually serve.

“When I fought for Harper’s Law, I was supported not only by the Conservative Government of the day but by the Labour Party too.

“They pledged to support our cause and agreed that those who kill emergency workers should face tougher sentences because some crimes are so grave they demand meaningful punishment.

“That cross party support helped make Harper’s Law a reality. Today, it feels forgotten.

“For victims’ families, this is not about politics. It is about whether a sentence means what a judge says it means. It is about whether justice is something we truly believe in, or something that can be negotiated away when it becomes inconvenient.

“Andrew deserves better. Every victim deserves better.

“And the British public deserve a justice system they can have faith in.”

The pair, who were 17 at the time of the offense in August 2019, were passengers in the car that dragged PC Harper for more than a mile along country roads when his ankles got caught in a towrope loop.

His mother Deborah Adlam said the potential release of his killers was an ‘insult beyond words’ Credit: PA A car dragged Andrew to his death when his ankles were caught in a towrope in 2019 Credit: PA

He had gone to investigate the theft of a quad bike when Bowers and Cole tried to escape in a vehicle driven by a third killer, Henry Long.

PC Harper sustained serious injuries and died in the road.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed “main perpetrator” Long would not be released early as he is not eligible under the scheme.

However, Debbie Adlam, the officer’s mother, was told that his other killers may have their sentences reduced in a letter from the MoJ.

The heartbroken mum told The Telegraph that the potential early release of the killers was an “insult beyond anything able to be put into words”.

She told the outlet: “It makes me feel sick. Andrew’s life doesn’t get to come back. It feels like a slap in the face and an insult.

“People are getting a free pass for in this country. I like to try to be proud of my country, but this isn’t something to be proud of. There’s a lot going wrong.”

It is unclear precisely when Bowers and Cole will become eligible for release, though it could be by the end of the year.

The driver, Long, is not eligible for early release under the scheme and will only be able to seek parole after serving half of his 16-year jail sentence.

But Mr Burnham confirmed he would review the early prisoner release policy following the uproar.

The PM told reporters: “All I can say is I will review the whole of this policy. Nobody can deny the pressure on prison places.

“I can give that assurance that every single part of this I will look into with the Justice Secretary.

“I can’t say that I can change the policy completely, but I will look at it in detail before we go further forward.”

The original sentences handed to the trio sparked a national outcry and a campaign for “Harper’s Law”, which introduced a mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of killing emergency workers while committing a crime.

The killers’ eligibility for early release will fuel fresh demands for Andy Burnham’s new government to rethink the controversial policy.

Under the scheme, serious criminals – including killers, rapists, and child groomers – are eligible to be freed halfway through their sentences rather than two-thirds, provided they have not committed serious rule breaches.

Criminals convicted of less serious offences can be freed as little as a third of the way through.

The scheme is written into via the 2026 Sentencing Act and is expected to become operational this September, leading to the early release of more than 5,000 offenders over the following 10 months.

Before Mr Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday, sources confirmed he was reviewing whether and how to exempt rapists and child groomers in the face of a growing backlash.

An MoJ spokesman said: “This was a horrific crime, and our deepest sympathies are with Pc Andrew Harper’s family and friends.

“In 2024, the country was facing a prison crisis and a total breakdown of law and order, with judges ordered to stop jailing dangerous criminals.

“This government is committed to public safety: we are building prison places at the fastest rate since the Victorian era, and taking the difficult decisions needed to lock up the most dangerous offenders.”

Rank and file colleagues of PC Harper today spoke of their disgust about the imminent release of his killers and called for them to be kept behind bars.

Aileen O’Connor, Chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation branch, said: “The killers of PC Andrew Harper should be kept where they belong… behind bars.

“Police across Thames Valley – and indeed the country – will be disgusted at the prospect of these smirking lowlifes being free to roam the streets.

“These killers have never shown any remorse for their horrific and deadly actions that night.

“Andrew’s wife Lissie and his whole family are serving a life sentence. The least we can expect is that his killers serve their whole sentence. However poor it already is.

“We will be taking this matter up with the Police Minister, the Home Secretary and the new Prime Minister. We will not stop. Andrew deserves nothing less.

“What message does this send about the worth of a life of a police officer? The Government and the parole board must reconsider any plans to release Andrew’s killers early.

“And they must do it now.

“No ifs. No buts.”