Pc’s widow wants ‘Andrew’s law’ life sentence for killers of police
‘I have witnessed the lenient way ... the justice system deals with criminals ’
THE widow of Pc Andrew Harper has launched a campaign for automatic life sentences for killers of emergency service workers.
Lissie Harper, 28, is expected to meet Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel in her attempt to change the law so that those who are convicted of killing a police officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor or paramedic would be jailed for life.
Her campaign, launched in conjunction with the Police Federation representing rank and file officers, follows the sentencing of her husband’s killers Henry Long, 19, and 18 year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers to 16 years and 13 years respectively for the manslaughter of Pc Harper.
The Attorney General, Suella Braverman, is considering calls to review the sentences for being “unduly lenient”.
Mrs Harper is seeking backing from the public and politicians for the change to be known as “Andrew’s law” in memory of her husband, who was killed by the trio of youths when they dragged him behind their car after being caught while attempting to steal a quad bike.
She said: “As a widow of a police officer – a title which I would give everything to not have – I have witnessed first-hand the lenient and insufficient 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 of our lives will spend an inadequate amount of time behind bars.”
The campaign has been backed by MPS including Sir Mike Penning, a former minister for policing.
Separately, Debbie Adlam, the mother of Pc Harper, called for a “mandatory” 20-year minimum prison term for killers of police officers.