A senior police officer involved in the investigation into the killing of PC Andrew Harper has expressed strong disapproval of the government's decision to reinstate an early release scheme that could allow two of the officer's killers to be freed. Former Detective Superintendent Stuart Blaik, who led the Thames Valley Police investigation, called the prospect "appalling" and "deeply concerning."
PC Harper was killed in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Under the Early Release Scheme, which has been resumed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, prisoners become eligible for release after serving half of their sentence instead of the usual two-thirds.
Blaik stated that neither Cole nor Bowers showed any remorse during their time in police custody or throughout the trial. He highlighted their behavior, including posing for cameras while under 18 ahead of their trial, as indicative of a lack of remorse. "I just really don't understand why the Early Release Scheme is being used in these sort of circumstances, it just doesn't feel right," Blaik told the BBC.
He argued that prisoners with a high level of culpability in manslaughter cases should be excluded from the scheme, noting that many convicted of serious offenses like rape and child sex offenses are already exempt. Blaik warned that the release of offenders like Cole and Bowers threatens to "undermine" the judiciary system.
Lissie Harper, PC Harper's widow, described the pair's eligibility for the scheme as a "gut punch." She stated that the sentences were already "pitiful" and called the reasons for early release, such as prison overcrowding, "disgraceful and disgusting." She expressed shame at being governed by what she termed "short-sighted decisions" that she believes make the country appear weak and its systems broken.
PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, also voiced her bitter disappointment, stating that "Andrew deserves better than this, and so do we." A petition initiated by the Police Federation has garnered over 650,000 signatures, and Thames Valley Police Federation has threatened legal action to prevent the release.
Henry Long, who drove the car that dragged PC Harper for a mile, received a 16-year sentence for manslaughter and is not eligible for early release under the scheme. Approximately 5,000 individuals are expected to be released early under the new Sentencing Act, a reduction from an initial estimate of 6,000 after exemptions were made for sex offenders.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris indicated a desire to expand exemptions further but stated it was not feasible without overwhelming the prison system. "We wanted to do more. We couldn't. We can't and then still have a viable prison estate," he explained.
