Burnham is forced to review the early prison release scheme after PC Harper’s widow blasts soft justice programme

The widow of hero PC Andrew Harper last night described Labor’s plan to release soft justice prisoners as ‘pathetic’.

Lissie Harper has spoken out after it was revealed two of her husband’s killers were to be released early.

He accused politicians of ‘making decisions at the table that will have real and lasting consequences for the families of victims like me’.

The future of the release program was in doubt after last night’s dramatic intervention.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham reiterated his earlier promise to review Labour’s flagship policy to ease prison overcrowding when questioned by journalists during his visit to Bath.

The Ministry of Justice refused to confirm reports that prison governors had been told to stop the plan.

But a source told the Daily Mail that officials were called to an online meeting with members of the Prison and Probation Service today to discuss the issue.

Ms Harper led senior police, campaigners and MPs to demand Mr Burnham intervene to prevent the release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers from September amid waves of murderers, rapists and violent criminals.

Henry Long (left), Jessie Cole (centre) and Albert Bowers (right) jailed for the death of PC Harper

Albert Bowers (left) and Jessie Cole (centre), pictured leaving Reading Magistrates’ Court in 2019

PC Harper was killed in the line of duty in 2019 when he was dragged for more than a mile behind a car while trying to stop three teenage thugs stealing a quad bike.

His widow fought for the Harper Act, which would impose a mandatory life sentence on anyone who kills an emergency worker in the line of duty.

But yesterday she said the widespread political support for changing the law in memory of her husband had now been ‘forgotten’.

After years spent largely out of the public eye, Ms Harper issued a powerful statement: ‘It is deeply saddening to me that we have reached a point where the early release of prisoners is even considered acceptable.’

He added: ‘We talk about justice, accountability and standing up for victims, but decisions like this do the exact opposite.

‘They tell victims that the pain they inflict is less important and that the sentence our courts impose on criminals is no longer the sentence they will actually serve.

‘For the families of the victims, this has nothing to do with politics. It’s about whether a sentence means what the judge says it means. It’s about whether justice is something we truly believe in, or whether it’s something that can be negotiated away when it becomes inappropriate.’

Ms Harper concluded: ‘Andrew deserves better. Every victim deserves better. And the British people deserve a justice system they can trust.’

PC Andrew Harper and Lissie Harper were married just four weeks before the Thames Valley Police officer was killed in 2019.

Pressure was already mounting on the Prime Minister to act after Cabinet ministers Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood were caught laughing about the plot hours before news of PC Harper’s killers emerged. Mr Burnham said his behavior was unacceptable.

Mr Harper, 28, died horrifically when he became trapped in a tow strap between the stolen quad bike and the teenagers’ getaway car.

He had previously been dragged for more than a mile along winding country roads near Sulhamstead in Berkshire at a ‘sickening’ speed, left fatally injured and shaken free, a court heard.

His wounds were so serious that those who arrived at the scene initially thought they had encountered a deer carcass.

PC Harper’s shift was due to end hours early, but he decided to take one last call before heading off on his honeymoon with his childhood sweetheart, Miss Harper.

The couple had only been married for four weeks. Cole and Bowers, who was 17 at the time and a passenger in the car, were sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020.

The judge described the trio as ‘unintelligent but professional criminals’ and said they would each serve two-thirds of their sentences.

The driver, 18-year-old Henry Long, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years. He is not eligible for early release under current Labor plans.

Dame Priti Patel, the former Tory home secretary who helped create Harper’s Law, said it would be ‘outrageous’ if Bowers and Cole were released early.

He added: ‘These criminals should be kept behind bars where they belong.’

Former Tory justice secretary Robert Buckland KC, who also worked on the legislation with Mrs Harper, told the Mail that early release would be an ‘insult’ to PC Harper’s memory.

Mrs Harper met with Conservative and Labor politicians as part of her successful campaign to introduce legislation in memory of her late husband

PC Harper was killed in the line of duty in 2019 when he was dragged behind a car for more than a kilometer while trying to stop three teenage thugs stealing a quad bike.

He said: ‘It’s as if the work of the Harper family is being forgotten. Why did they think this was okay in the first place?

‘Andy Burnham needs to stop this from taking effect and focus on: [releasing] ‘People who are not violent or sexual offenders and who do not pose a danger to society.’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the early release scheme, which is part of the Criminal Code, was ‘an absolute insult to victims and any decent person who could be endangered by criminals walking the streets’.

Aileen O’Connor, chief executive of the Thames Valley Police Federation, who represents PC Harper’s colleagues from the force, said: ‘Police in the Thames Valley, and indeed the whole country, will be disgusted at the prospect of these grinning tramps roaming the streets freely. ‘What message does this send about the value of a police officer’s life?’

Thames Valley Police Chief Jason Hogg said the possibility of early release ‘feels wrong’. He wrote to the Prime Minister ‘to clarify my opinion on this matter’.

Claire Waxman, Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, said: ‘As things stand, I do not have confidence that these releases can be managed in a way that fully protects victims, protects the public and maintains confidence in the justice system.’

Bowers and Cole are among nearly 6,000 criminals who will benefit from Labour’s Sentencing Bill, which will allow violent and sex offenders to be released after serving only half their sentences, rather than the current two-thirds. This means the duo could be released later in the year.

Other criminals may be released after serving only one-third of their sentences if they show good behavior while in prison. Murderers will not be taken into account.

Mr Burnham said: ‘I spoke to the new Justice Secretary [Alex Norris]. We will review the policy together and provide further comments in due course.’