PC’s widow to meet Patel on Harper’s Law
THE widow of PC Andrew Harper will meet the Home Secretary next month in her crusade for life sentences for killers of 999 workers.
Lissie Harper said she was delighted Priti Patel has agreed to discuss her call for Harper’s Law.
It came as the online petition the 29-year-old launched a week ago hit 500,000 signatures yesterday.
But she said: “We don’t just need warm words, we need action. We clearly have the backing of hundreds and thousands of the public.
“Now, politicians must sit up and take note. That’s MPs from all parties and the Home Secretary and Justice Minister. And I will be making this clear when we meet.”
Lissie had been married to Andrew, 28, just four weeks when he was dragged to his death behind a car while responding to a burglary in Sulhamstead, Berks, in August last year.
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, 18, got 13 years for manslaughter. Henry Long, 19, got 16. Bowers and Cole are bidding to challenge their convictions and sentences. The Court of Appeal has confirmed it will hear applications by Attorney General Suella Braverman to refer all three terms under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme. Lissie added: “It was pretty horrific – to not have the justice we needed was awful. “At the moment the sentences are just inadequate.” The Home Office said: “We are in touch with representatives for Lissie Harper and the Home Secretary and Justice Secretary hope to meet her at the earliest opportunity.”