The mother of PC Andrew Harper has implored the Prime Minister not to allow two of her son's killers early release from prison, stating that such a move would again deny the hero officer "proper justice." Debbie Adlam voiced her distress over potential plans to free Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers halfway through their 13-year sentences, describing it as "just another letdown for Andrew."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reviewing the early release scheme, part of the Sentencing Act set to take effect on September 2, amidst public outcry. Under current proposals, Cole and Bowers could be released in approximately six months.
Lissie Harper, PC Harper's widow, has previously called Labour's justice scheme "deplorable" and criticized politicians for overlooking victims' families. Adlam echoed these sentiments, explaining the profound and ongoing impact of her son's death.
"When you look at the horrific way he was killed, we have to live with that ... we've still got to live a life," Adlam said. "We've got to do our best to do a life as best we can for him and in his name, really. It's like a double life, almost, the way we actually have to go on, because there's obviously the loss, and then there's trying to keep a normality about life."
PC Harper, 28, died in August 2019 when he became entangled in a towing strap attached to a car driven by teenagers fleeing a quad bike theft. He was dragged for more than a mile at high speed near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, before becoming dislodged. His injuries were so severe that initial responders mistook his body for that of a deer.
He had been due to finish his shift but responded to a final call before his honeymoon. He and his wife, Lissie, had been married for only four weeks.
Cole and Bowers, who were 17 at the time, were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and received 13-year sentences, reduced from 20 years due to their age. The judge characterized them as "unintelligent, but professional criminals." They were mandated to serve two-thirds of their sentences.
The driver of the car, Henry Long, 18, received a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years and is ineligible for early release under the current plans.
Speaking about the potential early release, Adlam told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the family felt let down by the justice system multiple times, including sentence reductions. "So all of these reductions really hit us hard because we were initially given a sentence of so many years, which was then reduced for various reasons," she stated. "So to now hear that, you know, they're considering actually releasing them earlier still, it just makes you feel like we did when we were in court, basically, the feeling of Andrew hasn't been given proper justice."
Adlam urged the Prime Minister to consider the broader implications for the country. "Just saying we'll release them to relieve the pressure is actually bottling up problems for the future," she warned. "Some will have learnt their lesson, but as we know, the reoffending rates are so high."
Prison officials are reportedly meeting with the government to discuss the early release scheme.