A resurfaced video showing two of PC Andrew Harper's killers laughing as they were led away from court has intensified criticism of the United Kingdom's early prisoner release scheme. The footage has prompted Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reiterate a promise to review the policy, a flagship Labour initiative aimed at easing prison overcrowding.
PC Harper, 28, was killed in August 2019 when he was dragged for more than a mile behind a car while attempting to stop three teenagers from stealing a quad bike. Henry Long, the driver, and passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in 2020. Long received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release under the current plan. Cole and Bowers, who were 17 at the time of the offense, received 13-year sentences and could be eligible for release halfway through.
The resurfaced video, reportedly from a court appearance just 35 days after PC Harper's death, shows Cole and Bowers laughing and sticking out their tongues. PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, expressed that she felt 'sick' upon receiving confirmation from the Ministry of Justice that Cole and Bowers could be released. Lissie Harper, PC Harper's widow, has publicly denounced the early release scheme as 'deplorable,' stating that such decisions by politicians have profound and lasting consequences for victims' families. She argued that it undermines the meaning of sentences handed down by courts and erodes public faith in the justice system.
Mrs. Harper, who campaigned for Harper's Law—mandating life sentences for those who kill emergency workers in the line of duty—said that the widespread political support for the law now feels 'forgotten.' She stated that releasing prisoners early, especially those convicted of violent crimes, sends a message that victims' suffering matters less and that punishments are not fully served.
Pressure has mounted on the Prime Minister following reports of cabinet ministers laughing about the scheme. Burnham stated that their behavior was unacceptable. While the Ministry of Justice has not confirmed reports of a pause in the scheme, sources suggest officials are scheduled to discuss it. Police leaders and victims' advocates have voiced concerns. Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg has written to the Prime Minister to express his reservations, and Claire Waxman, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, stated she lacks confidence that the releases can be managed to safeguard victims and the public.
Cole and Bowers are among approximately 6,000 individuals who could benefit from Labour's Sentencing Act, which allows violent and sexual offenders to be released after serving half their sentence, rather than the current two-thirds. Some offenders may be eligible for release after serving just one-third of their sentence under certain conditions. Former Conservative ministers and opposition leaders have also criticized the policy, calling it an 'insult' to victims and the public.