Police chiefs call for PM to prevent early release of PC Harper's killers

Fifty police chiefs have signed a letter urging the prime minister to pursue "every legal option" to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers.

PC Harper, 28, died in 2019 when he was dragged behind the getaway car of three teenagers who had fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.

The intervention comes shortly after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "confident" the early release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers in January could be prevented.

The letter welcomed the prime minister's intervention, adding: "This provides an opportunity not only to examine every lawful avenue in PC Andrew Harper's case, but to ensure similar concerns do not arise again."

In response to Monday's open letter, Downing Street pointed to earlier comments made by Burnham where he said he would do "everything in his power" to prevent the early release of Cole and Bowers.

The police chiefs from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland also called for greater consideration of victims when prisoners have their sentences altered - such as with the government's early release scheme, which was designed to reduce prison overcrowding.

Under changes to the Sentencing Act made this year, Cole and Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020, will become eligible for release from custody after serving half of their sentences.

In the letter, released on Tuesday evening, police chiefs said the early release of PC Harper's killers, and that of anyone involved in the death of an officer, could cast doubt over the "value placed on their service and sacrifice when they put themselves in harm's way to protect others".