The chief constable of PC Andrew Harper’s force is considering joining legal action over the possible release of the young constable’s killers.
PC Harper, a 28-year-old Thames Valley Police officer, died in August 2019 while attending a reported quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13-year jail terms following their manslaughter convictions a year later. They are eligible for release halfway through their sentences.
The release policy has been brought in as prison capacity has been put under severe strain, and fears that courts may not be able to jail offenders if the crisis continues.
Aileen O’Connor, who chairs the Police Federation – the body representing officers in the force where PC Harper served – warned that allowing Cole and Bowers out early would anger and demoralise local serving officers.
Writing in the Sun, Ms O’Connor said she would “not forget the government’s inexplicable and unforgivable decision to allow those who kill police officers to be released early from jail”.
She said: “We will throw everything at this through a proper legal challenge from KCs, barristers, you name it. Our colleagues will accept nothing less.
“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.”
The Thames Valley chief constable said on Wednesday that he is “receiving legal advice” and would “certainly consider” joining the Police Federation’s legal action over the possible release of PC Harper’s killers.
Asked if he would join the case, Jason Hogg told the BBC’s Today programme on Wednesday: “This is something I certainly would consider.
“I do think that the public opinion is overwhelming in this matter, but I think it’s unfair and I do believe confidence in the criminal justice system risks being damaged.
“It’s right for the government to have a look at this matter.”
He added that the men’s possible release has had a “profound impact” on his force.
PC Harper’s widow Lissie has expressed fury at the prospect they could be released early, and a petition started by the Police Federation on Tuesday has already reached 100,000 signatures.
Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under the sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers exempted rapists and child sex offenders as part of the scheme to tackle overcrowding in jails.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said that he “wanted to go further” with the exemptions, but could not as the prison estate would fill up “very quickly”.
Speaking during a visit to HMP Welland Oaks, a prison under construction in Leicestershire, he told reporters: “It is important we’ve been able to take out the offences that we have.
“Of course, we wanted to do more. I’ve had those conversations.
“Those are very, very difficult conversations because, quite rightly, families are really upset about it and they feel that they’re carrying the can for previous failures, and they’re right.
“That shouldn’t be the case.”
Talking about the early release scheme exemptions, he added: “We wanted to go further. We couldn’t.
“We can’t and then still have a viable prison estate.”
The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA) has criticised the late change to the policy, saying that it had put “huge pressure” on prison staff, making mistakes “more likely”.
The government has pledged to deliver 14,000 new prison spaces by 2031.
Mr Norris confirmed that he had apologised to some families affected, including relatives of Pc Harper.
The officer was killed after getting 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 the burglary.
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not have been eligible for the government’s scheme, but Cole and Bowers’ shorter term mean they are now eligible to be released.
His mother, Debbie Adlam, said that the family was “bitterly disappointed” by the decision, telling the BBC: “Andrew deserves better than this, and so do we.”
