‘Lowlifes who killed PC Andrew Harper ought to by no means have been up for launch – public opinion was overwhelming’
Writing for The Mirror, Aileen O’Connor, chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, said officers were shocked that two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers were set to be released next year
Hero police officer PC Andrew Harper with his wife Lissie(Image: ITV)
PC Andrew Harper made the ultimate sacrifice for the job that he loved, serving communities, serving society.
His killers should never have been considered for early release by the government. Police officers of all ranks across the country remain truly shocked that they were.
We are pleased that Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Government – despite what was frankly initial reluctance – has eventually listened, seen sense and made the right decision to keep these lowlifes behind bars.
They had no option. The weight of public and policing opinion against such plans was overwhelming. The fact that more than one million people signed our petition over this was a historic public backing for police officers.
The fact 50 Chief Constables across the UK wrote an open letter calling for the Government to reconsider was unprecedented. Every single day police officers are getting battered… psychologically and physically. And it cannot continue.
A police officer is assaulted across the UK every 10 minutes. 19,443 officers were signed off work over the past year due to stress, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Three in 10 police officers and staff say they intend to leave policing within the next year. We need to see the government protecting us. We need to see the government supporting us.
That change should start from now before it is too late. Finally, we would like to offer huge thanks to everyone who backed our campaign.
The one million people who signed our petition and all those who offered messages of support. You have made a difference. Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every day.
They head towards danger when everyone else is running away. They do so knowing that they may never come home to their families. We have only seen in recent days in Cleveland, the danger colleagues face.
Our thoughts remain with the families of PC Tom Clough and PC Matthew Blades. And – as always – our thoughts remain with Andrew’s wife Lissie, his family, friends and close colleagues in Thames Valley Police.
