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PC Andrew Harper’s mother, Debbie Adlam, has now issued a challenge to the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to come and meet her
The mother of PC Andrew Harper has called on the prime minister to meet her face-to-face to explain his government’s position that it would not be possible to exempt her son’s killers from the early release scheme.
Debbie Adlam told ITV News she is “more angry than ever” that the government has resisted pressure to keep her son’s killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, behind bars.
Downing Street said on Monday it is “not possible” to exempt “one or two offenders” convicted of manslaughter from its early release scheme, which aims to free up space in prisons.
Ms Adlam, who was asked what she would like to say to Andy Burnham, said: “You want to tour the country, you want to meet the people – you haven’t even got in touch with me.
“How about coming to see me?
Pc Andrew Harper Credit: Thames Valley Police
PC Harper, 28, was fatally injured in 2019 when he became caught in a strap attached to the back of a car while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
He was dragged along a country road as three teenage suspects, including Cole and Bowers, fled the scene of the burglary.
They were found guilty of manslaughter over Harper’s death and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2020, but under current plans, they remain eligible to be freed in January, halfway through their sentences.
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and would not be eligible for release.
“Nobody has been in touch, officially, to tell me what the situation is. I’ve heard nothing from the government,” Ms Adlam told ITV News.
“I’m just really angry now because our emotions are going round… we’re getting twisted inside, with what is happening.
“My life’s on hold while this is going on. I’ve got to try and hold everything else together.”
“I’m asking them [the government] just to give them the time that they were supposed to have,” Ms Adlam said.
“They’re [the government] are bringing down the whole reputation of the force. They’re bringing down the public’s perception of the police force completely.”
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers Credit: Thames Valley Police
More than 880,000 people have signed a petition calling for PC Harper’s killers to remain in jail.
Around 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from an initial estimate of 6,000 after some exemptions were announced as part of an urgent government review of the scheme.
The measures, which are due to begin in October, are designed to tackle overcrowding in prisons.
Aileen O’Connor, who chairs the body that represents officers in PC Harper’s former force, Thames Valley Police, also chimed in on the government’s statement.
PC Andrew Harper’s widow Lissie Harper described the Government’s decision as a ‘punch in the gut’. Credit: Family handout/PA
“The public are speaking loudly and clearly,” she said.
“They agree with us that the Government are firmly on the wrong side of this.
“What they are doing is indefensible. And they simply cannot defend it.
“They must listen. The Prime Minister must listen.”
She added: “If you kill a police officer there should be no early release. No ifs. No buts.”
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A government spokesperson said on Monday: “I think you’ve seen from the Prime Minister’s words that he’s far from accepting the situation and as he wrote last week he wants to go even further.
“He’s pushed hard on what more we could do and his focus now is on fixing the prison system long term to avoid a repeat of this prison crisis so that it never happens again.”
Pressed on whether the prime minister was admitting there was nothing more he could do, the official said: “He understands the public wants him to go further, and he wanted to go further, but on the wider issue that prisons would have run out of space, police would stop making arrests, it would be impossible to lock up convicted offenders and that would put public safety at untold risk.”
The early release changes were part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year that cut the minimum amount of time many offenders would have to spend in prison.
Those freed will face tougher probation conditions, including electronic monitoring, random drug testing and possible bans from driving, pubs and events such as football matches.
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