More than 50 Chief Constables and senior law enforcement leaders have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister demanding that the killers of PC Andrew Harper are not released from prison.
The letter, backed by police chiefs from across the UK, is one of the most significant shows of unity from law enforcement in recent memory. It sends a clear message to Downing Street that those who killed the Thames Valley officer should not be walking free anytime soon.
PC Andrew Harper was just 28 years old and had been married for just four weeks when he was killed in August 2019. He died after being dragged along a road by a van near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire while responding to reports of a quad bike theft. Three teenagers were convicted in connection with his death.
His killers were handed manslaughter convictions rather than murder, a verdict that shocked many in the policing world and left Harper’s widow Lissie devastated. She has spent years campaigning for tougher sentences for those who kill emergency workers, and her efforts helped lead to the introduction of Harper’s Law, which brought in mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted of killing an emergency worker.
But now, with the prospect of those responsible potentially being released, police chiefs are stepping in. The open letter does not just call for the Prime Minister to block their release. It also pushes for stronger protections for victims and communities when release arrangements are being considered or changed.
At the heart of the letter is a concern that victims and the public are being left out of the conversation when decisions are made about letting serious offenders out of custody. Police leaders are arguing that communities deserve more of a say, and more protection, when the system is considering freeing people who have committed violent crimes against those who serve the public.
For the policing community, PC Harper’s case has always been deeply personal. Officers across England and the rest of the UK saw his death as an attack on every person who puts on a uniform and goes to work to protect others. The idea that those responsible could be released has reignited that anger.
Lissie Harper has continued to be a prominent voice in the campaign. She has spoken openly about the pain of watching the legal process unfold and has never shied away from pushing politicians to do more. The support of 50 police chiefs will likely strengthen her position as she continues to fight for justice in her husband’s name.
The letter puts the Prime Minister in a difficult spot. With such a large and united front from law enforcement, ignoring the call will not be easy. Whether the government acts on the demands remains to be seen, but the pressure being applied is significant.
For many people in England, PC Harper’s story is a reminder of the very real dangers that police officers face every single day. He was a young man at the start of his life, newly married and dedicated to his job, and he never made it home. The least his colleagues are asking is that those who took his life are not simply let go.