Debbie Adlam, mother of PC Andrew Harper, says her family will “pay the price” after learning that killers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers remain eligible for early release
The mother of PC Andrew Harper has said her family will “pay the price” after discovering her son’s killers remain eligible for early release under the Government’s sentencing reforms.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday that rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming would be excluded from the scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding.
But the plans have drawn fierce criticism after it emerged two of PC Harper’s killers would still qualify for early release.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, his mother Debbie Adlam said: “It feels like we’re letting Andrew down again. We’ve been through the justice system, we thought we’d done as best as we could. Now we’re standing up to fight again with this evening’s announcement, so I just feel really let down, for Andrew’s sake as well as ours.”
PC Harper sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019. The 28-year-old police officer died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary.
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not have been eligible for the Government’s scheme.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020, would become eligible for release after serving half of their sentences. Ms Adlam confirmed that Justice Secretary Alex Norris had contacted her by phone to explain the situation.
She said: “Apparently, the situation is, if nothing was done, then the prison system would fall completely. But we’re paying the price for it. It’s Andrew and his family, and many others like us, we’re paying the price.”
When asked whether she accepted Mr Norris’s apology, Ms Adlam said: “I do know that he was sorry, but there surely has to be other answers, other ways to look at and other things to explore. This decision was made very quickly.”
Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “I am beyond disappointed the Government is continuing to allow PC Andrew Harper’s killers to be released early from prison despite the overwhelming recent public outcry.
“It is simple: if Andrew’s killers were convicted today, they would receive life sentences due to the law that was created in his name. They would not be eligible for early release.
“This decision is demoralising for all police officers and our fellow emergency service workers, not just in the Thames Valley, that puts themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve their community.”
In his first week in power, Mr Burnham paused plans to release prisoners early in September after listening to concerns from victims.
Under the Sentencing Act, which became law earlier this year, prisoners serving time for some violent or sexual offences will become eligible for release halfway through their sentences, rather than serving the current tariff of two-thirds. Criminals including burglars and thieves are among prisoners who will be considered for release a third of the way through their sentences, down from the current 40%.
On Monday night, the PM announced anyone found guilty of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming will be blocked from the early release scheme, which will now come into force in October.
He admitted he wanted to go even further and ban other offenders from having their time in prison shortened. Mr Burnham assured the public that offenders will face tighter community supervision, including curfews and electronic tagging.
Earlier, PC Harper’s widow Lissie Harper described releasing killers early as “an affront to justice” and “an utter betrayal”. She went on to say: “The level of disrespect the Government are showing to Andrew and other victims – and to their loved ones such as me – is beyond contempt.”
Justice Secretary Mr Norris said he was “sorry” that Ms Harper had been “put into this position” and that he understood the anger. But he admitted the measures were necessary to ensure jail spaces don’t run out in the autumn.
“I know that she’s angry,” he said on Tuesday morning. “You know, frankly, the Prime Minister’s expressed his anger. I would express how angry I am too at being in a situation where we’re having to make significant changes that do have real impacts on people’s lives, so that we are able to have a functioning prison system.
“And I say, if we don’t, the consequences of this are, were we not to make these changes, then we would run out of prison places in this October or November.
“I know that’s difficult. I know that’s created harm, and it’s not Lissie Harper’s fault, and I’m sorry that she’s been put into this situation as a result, I genuinely am.”
He added that the latest changes to the early release scheme would see 5,000 prisoners released over 10 months, down from 6,000.