Jessie Cole, one of the individuals convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper, has been classified as 'violent' and a 'risk to staff' at HMP Whitemoor, a high-security prison. Inmates at the facility are reportedly 'terrified' of Cole, according to reports.
Cole, 24, is also described by prison officials as 'a climber,' a designation that suggests he poses a danger in less secure environments. Despite these warnings, Cole is said to be under a standard prison regime, affording him privileges such as television, DVDs, phone calls, and a weekly allowance for the prison canteen.
Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 13-year terms in 2020 for the manslaughter of PC Harper, who was killed in August 2019 during a theft getaway in Berkshire. The early release scheme, which allows prisoners to be freed after serving half their sentence rather than two-thirds, has sparked public outcry over the potential release of Cole and Bowers in January.
Whitehall insiders have indicated that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is increasingly confident that Cole and Bowers will be excluded from the early release scheme. A source stated that Cole should not have been considered for early release due to the nature of his crime and his behavior within prison, suggesting he is not ready for freedom.
Cole remains a Category A prisoner, the highest security classification, with multiple alerts on his prison record. Prisoners are typically moved to lower-security facilities as their release date approaches, and Cole's continued placement in high-security HMP Whitemoor suggests he is not considered for imminent release.
Cole, who is reportedly a trained boxer, was previously held at Feltham Young Offender Institution. Reports from that time described him as bullying other inmates and using his climbing ability to protest issues, such as missing gym sessions. A source characterized him as the worst among dangerous inmates at Feltham.
A petition to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in jail has garnered over one million signatures, increasing pressure on the government to prevent their early release. PC Harper, 28, was killed in the line of duty after responding to a quadbike theft. While pursuing the suspects, his foot became entangled in a tow rope, and he was dragged for over a mile. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence, while Bowers and Cole were sentenced for manslaughter.
PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, has expressed her anger and frustration over the possibility of early release, stating that it would negate the justice for her son's horrific death. She described feeling drained by the uncertainty from Downing Street regarding the prisoners' fate. The early release scheme is intended to alleviate prison overcrowding and initially included provisions for releasing thousands of individuals, though certain categories of offenders, such as rapists and serious child sex offenders, have been exempted.
The potential early release for Cole and Bowers has drawn widespread criticism from police federations and law enforcement leaders across the UK. A joint letter from chief constables and other leaders urged the Prime Minister to establish additional safeguards for serious offenders in future early release schemes. Darren Harris, Chair of Suffolk Police Federation, emphasized the need for confidence in the justice system to support officers and their families when catastrophic events occur, stating that an officer's sacrifice should not be treated as an inconsequential footnote.