Police chief considers joining legal action over PC Harper killers' early release

The chief constable of Thames Valley Police says he will consider joining legal action to block the release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg told the BBC he was in talks with the Police Federation of England and Wales over the matter, adding public opinion on their potential release was "overwhelming".

PC Harper, who served with Thames Valley, was killed in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.

The two passengers in the car, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were sentenced in 2020 to 13 years for manslaughter and could apply for early release after serving half of their sentences.

The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release.

Speaking on the Today programme, Thames Valley Police chief Jason Hogg urged the government to reconsider its position.

Only prisoners convicted of murder, rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences will be excluded from the scheme in England and Wales - while those convicted of manslaughter remain eligible.

"I fully understand the challenges around the crisis in the prison system," he said.