Over One Million Sign Petition to Prevent PC Andrew Harper's Killers From Early Release
A petition calling for the three individuals convicted in connection with the death of PC Andrew Harper to serve their full sentences has exceeded one million signatures. This milestone was noted without official fanfare, preceding the fourth anniversary of the Thames Valley Police officer's killing.
PC Harper died on 15 August 2019, when he was dragged behind a car after responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire. Jessie Cole, Albert Bowers, and Henry Long were subsequently convicted of manslaughter, with Long, the driver, receiving a 16-year sentence. Cole and Bowers were each sentenced to 13 years.
The petition, initiated by Lissie Harper, PC Harper's widow, seeks to ensure that those responsible for her husband's death are not released early. This public push for accountability underlines a pervasive concern regarding judicial leniency in cases involving attacks on emergency service personnel. Lissie Harper has consistently campaigned for 'Harper's Law', which mandates life sentences for those convicted of killing emergency workers in the course of their duty.
The petition's substantial backing highlights a cynical public perception of the criminal justice system's capacity to deliver commensurate punishment, particularly in high-profile cases involving the state's uniformed agents.
