PC Harper petition surpasses 500,000 signature milestone as Britons urge Andy Burnham NOT to release officer's killers early from prison
A petition urging Andy Burnham not to release PC Andrew Harper’s killers has surpassed 500,000.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister approved plans to let a number of criminals, including those guilty of murder, become eligible for early release just halfway through their sentences.
Two of those who could be released include Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both of whom were convicted of manslaughter in 2020.
The 28-year-old officer was killed in August 2019. While responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire, he was dragged by a vehicle down a country road.
His death led his widow, Lissie Harper, to successfully campaign for Harper's Law, introducing mandatory life sentences for those convicted of killing an emergency worker while committing a crime.
But Bowers and Cole could be released after only having served six-and-a-half years in jail.
In response, Thames Valley Police Federation, chaired by Aileen O'Connor, has launched a petition demanding that the killers are blocked from being set free.
The petition, written by Ms O’Connor, reads: “I am absolutely outraged that the Justice Secretary and the Prime Minister 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.
“Let me be clear, on behalf of Thames Valley Police Officers, I challenge the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary to stand before PC Andrew Harper's widow, Lissie, his parents, his brother, his loved ones, or indeed any police officer in this country, and explain why those responsible for killing a police officer should still be eligible for early release.
“Explain it to the officers who attended the scene on 15 August 2019 and witnessed the horrific consequences of that crime.
"The friends and colleagues that had to hear about it on the radio. Tell them that the life of a police officer does not warrant the same protection under this legislation.
“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.”
She added that those close to PC Harper had “time and again 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.”
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She concluded “somebody, somewhere, must finally listen.”
On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Alex Norris confirmed to GB News that he told PC Harper's wife Lissie her husband's killers would be released.
In their conversation, Ms Harper made "very clear about her disappointment with the decision that has been taken and her anger and her sense of feeling let down", the Justice Secretary admitted.
He also claimed the Government would have liked to have "gone further" with exemptions, but was unable to.
"This is as far as we can go and still have prison places," he added.
Ms Harper branded the decision to free her husband's killers an "utter betrayal" and an "affront to justice".
Speaking to GB News, Peter Bleksley argued the Prime Minister's "ambition outstrips his ability" and had "chosen the police as the enemy".
He said: "Clearly there is very strong feeling amongst the public, not only police officers, and as much as the police have attracted some legitimate criticism in recent years, I think most law-abiding people would like to be able to support their police.
"And when they see one as heroic as PC Harper having been slaughtered, then see the people responsible for his death receive lamentably pathetically low sentences, only for two of those to be potentially released early, then of course the public are outraged."
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