We’re devastated, says Pc Harper’s father
Detectives are given more time to question 10 held after Pc on burglary call was dragged to his death
THE father of a newly-wed police officer who was killed while attending a burglary has told how his family is “absolutely devastated” as they struggle to come to terms with his death.
Pc Andrew Harper died from multiple injuries after he was dragged hundreds of yards by a suspect’s getaway vehicle along a country lane in Berkshire on Thursday night.
Philip Harper told Sky News: “We’re absolutely devastated and we’re in a bad place.”
His son died in the village of Sulhamstead a week before he was due to go on honeymoon with his new wife, Lissie.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that the burglary victim who dialled 999 at 11.18pm is now distraught that the police officer who rushed to his aid was killed.
At a Thames Valley Police press conference yesterday, Det Supt Ailsa Kent said the post-mortem examination results were “consistent with our belief that Andrew was caught between a vehicle and the road and then dragged for a distance”.
Appealing for witnesses, she added: “However, the circumstances as to how Andrew came to be out of his [police] vehicle and then caught under the suspect vehicle is unknown.”
An unnamed officer who attended the burglary with Pc Harper is being given “emotional support” after witnessing his colleague’s death.
That policeman is understood to have crouched over Pc Harper’s body shouting: “Stay with me. Stay with me. Keep breathing.”
Detectives have arrested 10 males, aged between 13 and 30, on suspicion of murder. It is believed that some of those accused are from the council-run caravan site called Four Houses Corner which is used by travellers and is about three miles from the scene of the burglary. Police have been granted an extra 36 hours to question them.
Forensics officers last night remained at the travellers’ site conducting a series of searches, focusing on a black hatchback car.
A villager, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was friends with the homeowner who called police. He said: “He is feeling really bad because it was his house that was targeted. He feels terribly upset by it all. He was the only person in the property.”
He said thieves may have been targeting items in a garage or shed.
Grieving officers have been laying floral tributes at the scene where the officer, a member of Abingdon’s Roads Policing Proactive Unit, died.
The note on one bouquet described Pc Harper as “Thames Valley’s finest.”
Another read: “A shockingly sad day. We come together as a brotherhood at times like this and hopefully your family can take some comfort from that love and support.”
Lissie’s mother, Julie Beckett, posted a photo of her daughter’s wedding to Pc Harper on Facebook, adding: “This photo makes me smile; remembering the friendship we had and that you were such a huge part of our lives. I love you like a son and always will. Rest in peace, my lovely son-in-law.”
Mark Harper, Pc Harper’s uncle, told MailOnline: “Police officers need more protection. If anything good can come out of something as tragic as this, it has to be a greater deterrent to criminals. We are a close-knit family and we’ve been left absolutely devastated by this. We are supporting one another at the moment and we’re being kept updated with the police investigation.
“There isn’t anything more I can say, really. We are all just so shattered.”
The effect on the wider police community was illustrated by Det Supt Shabnam Chaudhri, of the Met Police, who wrote: “We are tough as cops, but I won’t lie, I bawled my eyes out when I saw this.”
A fundraising page Pc Harper set up to support children with cancer has been flooded with donations.
He had created a donation page with a £500 target for the 20-mile, 200-obstacle Dirty Weekend race in Peterborough in May next year.
Last night, that figure was nearing £10,000 as many claimed the charity had become a fitting tribute.
Pc Harper had written: “Nobody deserves to experience the devastating impacts of cancer, but especially not children.
“Even if only one child benefits then it will be well and truly worth it.
“Wherever possible, please support me in this goal and help us fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.”
‘If anything good can come of something as tragic as this, it has to be a greater deterrent to criminals’