Two men convicted in connection with the death of PC Andrew Harper will be released from prison early, despite a public outcry and a temporary pause in the early release scheme. Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were passengers in the car involved in the 2019 incident, are set to be freed after a government review. The decision has been met with anger from the officer's family, who say they feel let down by the justice system.
Prime Minister's Pause and Review
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had paused the early release scheme last month following widespread criticism over the potential release of Bowers and Cole. The scheme was designed to alleviate severe overcrowding in prisons. After a thorough review, the government confirmed that Bowers and Cole would be released, but approximately 1,000 other offenders, including rapists, child sex offenders, and individuals linked to grooming gangs, will now remain in prison.
Henry Long, the driver of the car, was not eligible for early release. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter, while Bowers and Cole each received 13-year sentences.
Family's Reaction
PC Harper's mother, Debbie, expressed her devastation in an interview with Newsnight, saying, 'It feels like we're letting Andrew down again. We've been through the justice system, we thought we'd done as best we could, and now we're standing up to fight again.' She added that she feels 'really let down' both for her son's sake and her own.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he spoke with Debbie and PC Harper's widow, Lissie, to apologize personally. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'At the moment, we'd run out of prison places in October or November. We can't allow that to happen. So we're making significant changes to make sure that long-term future of having proper prison capacity in this country, but I appreciate, as they say, that they shouldn't be the ones who as a result are impacted.'
Prime Minister's Defense
Writing in the Telegraph, Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the decision, stating he 'wanted to go even further' in keeping certain categories of prisoners locked up. He said: 'I have pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do. I know I can look people in the eye and say to them there is nothing more I could have asked for without risking the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing within months.'
Details of the Crime
PC Andrew Harper, 28, was responding to reports of an attempted quad bike theft when he became entangled in a crane strap attached to the boot of a car driven by Henry Long. Long drove off at 'breakneck' speed along country lanes, with PC Harper being dragged for more than a mile. The officer had been married to Lissie for only one month before his death.
The three men were found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter in 2020. During the trial, they denied knowing the officer was caught on the back of the vehicle, calling it a 'freak event'. However, the prosecution argued they would have been aware 'without a shadow of a doubt' that PC Harper, who was over 6ft tall and weighed 14 stone, was being dragged to his death.
In sentencing, judge Mr Justice Edis acknowledged that the jury's decision had 'caused some controversy'. The criminals were seen hugging each other and grinning outside court after being cleared of murder. Lissie Harper expressed her 'immense disappointment' with the verdict.
Impact and Future Implications
The early release of Bowers and Cole raises questions about the balance between prison capacity and public safety. While the government argues that the measure is necessary to prevent a collapse of the prison system, critics, including the family of PC Harper, feel that justice is being compromised. The review has led to a tightening of the criteria for early release, ensuring that more serious offenders remain behind bars.
The case has also prompted a broader debate about sentencing and parole policies in the UK, with some calling for a reassessment of how early release decisions are made, particularly in cases involving the death of a police officer.
