Calls grow to stop early release of officer's killers

Family members and colleagues of a police officer who died on duty have urged the government to reconsider a scheme which would see his killers released early from prison.

PC Harper, from Wallingford, was killed in 2019 after being dragged by a car as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in west Berkshire.

Under updated measures aimed at easing prison overcrowding, two of his killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, would be eligible for release next year.

The Ministry of Justice has said it "wanted to go further and block more offenders from getting out sooner" but that "it could not do so without risking prisons reaching capacity and collapsing".

Jason Hogg is the chief constable for Thames Valley Police, which is the force that Harper served under.

Hogg made clear that "any government would have no option but to release prisoners" because the prisons "are full".

But he said he does not think the government has considered the impact that has on those who work in policing and their friends and family.

He added: "It is my strongly held view that the people responsible for killing an emergency server in the course of their duty should remain behind bars, so all I'm urging the government to do is to re-look at this."

Hogg was speaking while mid-way the 2026 Unity Tour, a national cycling event that honours police officers who have died in the line of duty and raises money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), the charity supporting police families bereaved through service.

Cycling alongside colleagues from Thames Valley Police and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary he said the team of 47 fundraisers rode past the place where PC Harper was killed and shared a "particularly poignant" moment.

"Those who serve us in the public sector and lose their lives, we deserve to remember them and they deserve to be protected as well," Hogg said.

"Policing is a family and we remember those who lose their lives in service."

PC Harper's family have said they feel unprepared for the early release of his killers.

His uncle Paul Shrimpton, said: "None of them showed any remorse at the time, so to hear that they might not even serve the sentences that they got is another kick to us and we just feel like as a family we're being put through it all again."

Cole and Bowers were both sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020 and will be eligible for release after serving half of their terms.

The vehicle's driver, Henry Long, was handed a 16-year sentence and will not qualify for early release.

"We don't really see there being any difference between the three of them," said Shrimpton.

"It's impossible to believe that they were just sat there and didn't know what was going on."

On Monday, the government unveiled revised plans for England and Wales that would exclude prisoners convicted of rape, grooming and serious child sex offences from an early release scheme.

However, those serving sentences for manslaughter would remain eligible for earlier release.

Shrimpton wants the government to "look at the weight of public opinion" and make those who have killed an emergency worker while on duty to the ineligible for early release.

Olivia Bailey MP, said: "PC Andrew Harper was the best of us, and it is unacceptable that his killers may be freed early."

The Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire said she expressed this and the concerns of her constituents to the Justice Secretary Alex Norris on Thursday afternoon.

"The killing of PC Harper happened in our community, and the pain and trauma it caused is still deeply felt," Bailey said.

She added: "Residents have shared their stories and like me, they want to see PC Harper's family treated with the respect they deserve.

"I will continue to campaign and make the case that these vile killers should not be released early."