Read my latest news and views…
Thames Valley Police leaders continue to pressure the Government over the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers
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.”
Preventing the early release of PC Harper's killers is not just the right thing - its actually quite simple
At the time of writing the petition calling on the Government to stop the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers has reached 836,314. The number continues to grow and it seems safe to assume that the petition launched by the Thames Valley Police Federation will soon reach one million signatures.
Andrew’s family, colleagues and the public he served will be rightly disappointed by the failure to act.
PC Andrew Harper was killed in the line of duty just seven years ago. Andy Burnham promised action to prevent the early release of two of his killers and Andrew’s family, colleagues and the public he served will be rightly disappointed by the failure to act.
Matthew Barber calls for the Government to take emergency action over potential early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers
“The killers of Andrew Harper should remain in prison and should not be released early.” That is the simple message from Matthew Barber.
The Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner has written to the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor urging the Government to consider emergency legislation to prevent the early release of two of the men responsible for the killing of PC Andrew Harper under the Sentencing Act 2026.
The Generation Game
The "battle between the generations" is the great lie of modern British politics. It is a cynical distraction, carefully curated to ensure we are fighting each other rather than looking at the state.
To convince people of the need for change, we must abandon the divisive identity politics of the generation war. We need a new social contract: one that prioritises our families over the expansion of the state.
HMICFRS Inspection shows Thames Valley Police has improved, but work must continue
I am pleased to see there are several areas where the force has made improvements. This includes the way the force prevents and deters crime and anti social behaviour and reduces vulnerability, with recognition that the force has invested in the capacity and capability of neighbourhood policing teams, is effective in its approach to identifying and preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG) and, is effective in preventing and reducing rural crime.