Thames Valley Police leaders continue to pressure the Government over the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers

Earlier today, Monday 10 August, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, Thames Valley Police Chief Constable, Jason Hogg, and Chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, Aileen O’Connor, jointly wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to keep PC Andrew Harper’s killers behind bars.

Matthew Barber said: “It is entirely possible for the Government to frame legislation that would exempt the killers of emergency service workers from the provisions of the Sentencing Act.

“We are all prepared to work with the Government to improve the legislation and ensure PC Andrew Harper’s killers are not released early from prison next year.”

The PCC has proposed an amendment to the Sentencing Act which would see individuals serving a sentence for manslaughter where the victim was an emergency service worker who died while discharging their duties excluded from the early release scheme.

This would mean that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole would remain in jail and would not be released early under the Sentencing Act.

Matthew added: “The strength of public feeling about the sense of injustice for Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues is clear. Over 879,000 people across the country have signed Thames Valley Police Federation’s petition to keep Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole behind bars. 

“The Government can make this change. They have already confirmed they will create nuance in the legislation to keep individuals involved in grooming gang offences in prison. If they can do so for those offenders, then they can do so for those involved in the death of an emergency service worker.

“I understand the pressures on prison capacity, but this amendment will affect a small number of individuals and will show police officers who put themselves in harms way every day that the Government and politicians are on their side.

“As we approach the seventh anniversary of the killing of Andrew this weekend, it is imperative the Government act.

“There is no other acceptable outcome than Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole serving their full sentence behind bars.”

A full copy of the PCC, Chief Constable and Federation Chair’s letter is available via this link.

Under the Sentencing Act, offenders are set to be released early to ease pressure on prison capacity. Last month, the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, ordered an urgent review of the legislation and has since excluded offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming offences from the early release scheme. Emergency legislation to amend the Sentencing Act will be tabled to the House of Commons when Parliament sits again in September. The PCC is proposing his amendment is also included in the emergency legislation.