Early prisoner release ‘deplorable’, says widow of killed police officer

22nd July, 2026 | News

PC Andrew Harper’s Widow Condemns Early Prisoner Release Plans

Lissie Harper, the widow of murdered police officer PC Andrew Harper, has criticised proposals that could allow some prisoners to be released early, describing the policy as “deplorable” and deeply unfair to victims’ families.

Her comments come after the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, two of the men convicted of the 2019 manslaughter of PC Harper, could become eligible for early release under existing rules. The pair were each sentenced to 13 years in prison after Harper was fatally dragged behind a getaway vehicle while responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire.

Mrs Harper said she was disappointed that a policy allowing early release was even being considered, arguing that it undermines public confidence in the justice system and diminishes the suffering of victims’ families.

Reflecting on her campaign for Harper’s Law, which introduced tougher sentences for those who kill emergency workers, she noted that it had received cross-party backing and said those commitments now feel forgotten.

She stressed that justice should mean offenders serve the sentences handed down by the courts, warning that reducing prison terms sends the wrong message to both victims and criminals.

Her remarks come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced his government will review the UK’s prisoner early release policy as part of broader justice reforms.

Mrs Harper concluded by saying that her late husband, other victims, and the British public deserve a justice system they can trust, insisting that justice should never be compromised for convenience.