The prospect of early release for two men convicted in connection with the death of PC Andrew Harper has drawn strong condemnation, particularly from the officer's mother, Debbie Adlam. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the vehicle that dragged PC Harper to his death in August 2019, could be released from prison halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter. This possibility arises from the new Sentencing Act, which is scheduled to take effect in September 2026.
PC Harper, 28, tragically lost his life while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. He became entangled in a strap attached to the back of a car as three teenage suspects fled the scene. Cole and Bowers were 17 at the time of the incident and were handed their sentences following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for the early release scheme.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that Cole and Bowers might be eligible for the scheme, a revelation that PC Harper's mother described as making her 'feel sick'. Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Adlam stated, 'Andrew's life doesn't get to come back. It feels like a slap in the face and an insult,' adding her concern that 'people are getting a free pass for crime' in the UK.
The new Sentencing Act is anticipated to facilitate the early release of approximately 6,000 criminals. However, the government has yet to explicitly state whether those convicted of serious offences, including killers, rapists, and paedophiles, will be exempt from its provisions. An MoJ spokesperson acknowledged the 'horrific crime' and extended sympathies to PC Harper's family, while reiterating the government's commitment to public safety and addressing a 'prison crisis' experienced in 2024.
The Police Federation of England & Wales has also voiced its outrage, with Deputy National Chairman Brian Booth labelling the early release policy as 'disgusting'. PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, successfully campaigned for 'Harper's Law', which introduced mandatory life sentences for the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty. However, this law is not retrospective and therefore does not affect the sentences of her husband's killers. The newly appointed Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, has been urged to reconsider the scheme, with the Prime Minister's spokesman stating the government's focus on public safety and addressing the prison crisis.