Jessie Cole, one of the men convicted of manslaughter in the death of PC Andrew Harper, has been classified as 'violent' and a 'risk to staff' at the high-security HMP Whitemoor prison. Reports indicate that inmates at the facility are 'terrified' of Cole, who is also described as a 'climber' by prison officials.
Cole, 24, is reportedly on a standard prison regime, which allows access to privileges such as television, DVDs, and phone calls, and grants him £20 weekly for canteen purchases. Despite these warnings on his prison record, Cole remains eligible for early release under a government scheme aimed at reducing prison overcrowding. This prospect has ignited public anger, with a petition to keep Cole and his co-defendant Albert Bowers behind bars exceeding one million signatures.
PC Andrew Harper was killed in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire. The 28-year-old Thames Valley Police officer became entangled in a tow rope attached to a fleeing vehicle and was dragged for over a mile. Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and received 13-year sentences. Henry Long, the driver of the vehicle, was sentenced to 16 years for manslaughter.
Whitehall insiders have suggested that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is increasingly confident that Cole and Bowers will be excluded from the early release scheme. A source indicated that Cole's behavior and the risks he poses demonstrate he is not ready for release. Cole is classified as a Category A prisoner, the highest security designation, with multiple alerts on his record. Typically, prisoners are moved to lower-security facilities as their release date approaches, a step not yet taken for Cole, suggesting he is not considered nearing release.
Previously held at Feltham Young Offender Institution, Cole was known for bullying other inmates and reportedly engaged in disruptive behavior, such as climbing to protest issues. Sources describe him as a trained boxer and previously the most problematic inmate at Feltham.
PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, has expressed profound distress over the potential early release, stating she would be 'absolutely furious' if promises to keep the killers incarcerated were broken. She conveyed her exhaustion with the uncertainty surrounding the decision and the impact on her family, emphasizing the need for justice following her son's horrific death.
The early release scheme, initially intended for 6,000 individuals, has been adjusted to exempt rapists and serious child sex offenders, with approximately 5,000 people now eligible. However, the potential release of Cole and Bowers has drawn widespread criticism from Police Federations and law enforcement leaders across the UK. A collective letter from chief constables urged the Prime Minister to implement additional safeguards for serious offenders in future early release programs. Darren Harris, Suffolk Police Federation Chair, highlighted the importance of officers having confidence that the justice system supports them when tragic events occur, asserting that an officer's sacrifice should not be disregarded in sentencing and release decisions.