Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg has welcomed the Prime Minister's intervention to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers. The decision follows a campaign by PC Harper's family and colleagues, which Hogg stated had re-traumatized them.
"I'm delighted and genuinely grateful for the intervention by the Government in looking at this again," Hogg told the Daily Mail. He praised PC Harper's wife Lissie and mother Debbie Adlam for their efforts, noting the significant emotional toll the past weeks have taken on them and other family members. "It's difficult to underestimate the impact the past four weeks have had on them as individuals and other members of Andrew's family," Hogg said. He added that the family had described the experience as being forced to "go through, simply having to fight for, in their words, justice being done."
The change in policy, which will exclude those convicted of unlawful killing from early release schemes, is considered part of PC Harper's enduring legacy. Hogg indicated that this development would ensure many hundreds of victims' families whose loved ones have been killed will now see the culprits remain in prison for longer. "I'm quite proud that his legacy does live on, some good has been done in this situation," he stated.
However, Hogg expressed concern that the exemptions did not extend further, leaving many other victims' families disappointed. He highlighted ongoing worries among police leaders about broader government plans to release offenders early and potentially jail fewer criminals by discarding shorter prison sentences. "We are in this situation still where the Sentencing Act is based on the person sentenced, not the risk they pose to the public," Hogg explained. He warned that individuals released early, such as those convicted of domestic abuse, could still pose a risk to victims or the public.
PC Andrew Harper was killed in the line of duty on August 15, 2019. His killers, Cole and Bowers, were convicted of manslaughter. Hogg cautioned that police forces may need to divert resources from other priorities to manage offenders released into the community. He described the current state of the criminal justice system as being in "crisis," a term he used when meeting with the Lord Chancellor. He anticipates that resolving these issues will take several years, especially given a national reoffending rate of approximately 30 percent for adults in their first year after release. Hogg also noted that even before the full Sentencing Act implementation, reports indicate increased difficulty in remanding individuals into custody.