Pc Harper killers still eligible for early release under Burnham scheme

Two men convicted of killing Thames Valley Police officer Pc Andrew Harper will still qualify for early release under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s revised prison scheme. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020, could be freed after serving half their sentences, despite public opposition and changes announced this week.

Pc Harper, 28, died in August 2019 after being dragged by a car while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. A strap attached to the vehicle caught him, pulling him along a country road. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release under the new rules.

Barnet officers and families react

Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg, whose force covers parts of north-west London including Barnet, criticised the decision. He said it was demoralising for officers who risk their lives to protect communities. Hogg told the *Evening Standard* that if Cole and Bowers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences under laws created in Pc Harper’s name.

Pc Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, told BBC Newsnight the family felt let down by the justice system. She said the government’s decision to exclude only certain offences from early release left families like hers paying the price. Adlam confirmed Justice Secretary Alex Norris had called her to explain the changes but said she still sought alternative solutions.

Scheme delayed, supervision tightened

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on 29 July that the early release scheme would be delayed until October. The delay follows criticism of the original plan, which aimed to ease prison overcrowding by releasing some offenders early. Burnham said the revised scheme would include tighter community supervision, such as GPS monitoring for rapists to restrict their movements.

Burnham told reporters the government wanted to go further but could not without risking the collapse of the prison system. He said offenders would face longer supervision periods and new rules, including restriction zones. The changes do not apply to those already sentenced for rape or serious child sexual offences.

Pc Harper’s widow, Lissie Harper, called the decision an affront to justice. She told the *Evening Standard* it was an utter betrayal and showed contempt for victims and their families. Thames Valley Police Federation representatives in Barnet said officers were concerned about the message the decision sent to those who rely on emergency services.

What happens next

The early release scheme will begin in October, with offenders subject to stricter community supervision. Thames Valley Police will monitor the impact on local policing, including in Barnet, where officers work alongside emergency services affected by the changes. The government has not indicated further revisions to the scheme.