Harper’s Law needed to protect staff, says widow

THE wife of a police officer killed on duty has said she will not allow a new law intended to protect emergency workers to be “kicked into the long grass”.

Lissie Harper, whose husband Pc Andrew Harper, was dragged to his death in Aug 2019 by a gang of fleeing thieves, is campaigning for mandatory life sentences for those who kill police officers and other front line workers.

She launched the campaign 12 months ago after being appalled by the inadequate punishment the perpetrators received and has said she would not rest until the law was changed.

Pc Harper, 28, was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged to his death down a winding country road in Berkshire on the night of Aug 15 2019.

He and his wife had only been married for a matter of weeks when the tragedy occurred.

All three members of the gang, who had been stealing a quad bike, were cleared of murder by the jury, which deliberated for more than 12 hours.

Henry Long, 19, the driver, who admitted manslaughter, was jailed 16 years, while 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were found guilty of manslaughter, were handed 13 years in custody.

The Court of Appeal later rejected an application to increase their prison sentences.

Since then Mrs Harper has lobbied Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, and Robert Buckland, the Justice Secretary, for tougher punishments for the killers of front line workers.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the launch of the campaign, she said: “Day after day, police officers – and sadly many of our emergency services heroes – look danger in the eyes and carry on regardless.

“They put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public, so we need to give something back to show we support them.”

Mrs Harper said more than 750,000 people had now signed a petition backing her campaign.

‘Day after day, police officers look danger in the eyes and carry on regardless’