POLICE KILLERS MUST GET LIFE
PC Harper’s widow demands Andrew’s Law to end agony of ‘lenient justice’
THE widow of hero PC Andrew Harper is launching a campaign today to introduce tougher sentences for criminals convicted of killing police officers.
Describing her ‘unbearable pain’, Lissie Harper said bereaved police families should no longer have to face the ‘keen sting of injustice’ caused by soft jail terms.
Her husband’s three killers were only convicted of manslaughter – not murder – and two could be freed after less than nine years behind bars.
Mrs Harper, 29, told the Mail that after her husband’s death on August 15 last year she began ‘my own life sentence’ – and insisted all police killers should have to do the same.
She wants to see new legislation called ‘Andrew’s Law’ that imposes an automatic life sentence with no parole for all criminals who take the life of a police officer. Such whole- life tariffs are mainly reserved for serial killers.
Mrs Harper said: ‘I am doing this for Andrew and all those who selflessly run towards danger in their line of duty.
‘Nothing will bring my husband back – I cannot even ensure that the men responsible for killing him spend the rest of their lives in prison. But please help me to certify that this will not happen again, that we stand shoulder to shoulder and protect our protectors.’
Home Secretary Priti Patel is understood to be considering the proposals, and is said to be sympathetic to an increase in the penalty for police killers.
PC Harper, 28, died as he tried to stop three thieves fleeing after they stole a quad bike in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire.
He became tangled in a strap attached to the thieves’ car and was dragged to his death.
Driver Henry Long, 19, and 18year-old passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced at the Old Bailey last week for the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police constable. Long could be out after serving two thirds of his 16-year sentence – ten years and eight months. Cole and Bowers will be entitled to automatic release after eight years and eight months of their 13-year terms.
Attorney General Suella Braverman is reviewing their sentences after the trio were cleared of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey last month. Mrs Harper – who is working with the Police Federation of England and Wales on the campaign – hopes to lobby Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Home Secretary for Andrew’s Law, which would apply to those who kill any emergency worker, including firefighters, nurses, doctors and paramedics.
Mrs Harper said: ‘As a widow of a police officer – a title I would give everything to not have – I have witnessed first hand the lenient way in which the justice system deals with criminals who take the lives of our emergency workers.
‘The people responsible for wreaking utter despair and grief in all our lives will spend an inadequate time behind bars.
‘These men who showed no remorse, no guilt or sorrow for taking such an innocent and heroic life away will find themselves
‘Protect our protectors’ ‘Wreaking utter despair and grief’
able to live out the rest of their lives free and able to commit more crimes and continue to put people in danger when they are released in a very small number of years.’
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, said: ‘The killing of a police officer should see those responsible face the rest of their lives in prison.’
Mr Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, also backs changes in the law, but she suggests a 20-year minimum term rather than a whole-life tariff, and for sentence discounts for young offenders who kill police officers to be scrapped.