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The Government is facing mounting pressure to explore every available legal avenue to prevent the early release of two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper, after an unprecedented intervention from police leaders across the United Kingdom.
With Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers expected to become eligible for release in January under changes to sentencing legislation, fifty chief constables and senior policing figures from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have jointly called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to examine all lawful options to keep the pair in custody.
The coordinated appeal comes at a crucial stage, with ministers now under growing scrutiny over the impact of measures introduced to ease prison overcrowding. Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that senior officials are examining whether any legal mechanisms exist that could prevent the release of the two men, whose convictions stem from the death of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper in 2019.
PC Harper, aged 28, died while responding to the theft of a quad bike in Berkshire. He became caught in a tow rope attached to a getaway vehicle and was dragged along a country road after three teenagers fled the scene.
Cole and Bowers were sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for manslaughter in 2020. Under amendments made this year to the Sentencing Act, they are due to become eligible for release after serving half of their custodial terms. A third offender, Henry Long, received a 16-year extended determinate sentence and is not eligible for release under the current scheme.
In their letter to the Prime Minister, policing leaders welcomed indications that the Government is willing to review the case.
The letter stated: "This provides an opportunity not only to examine every lawful avenue in PC Andrew Harper's case, but to ensure similar concerns do not arise again."
The signatories warned that the release of individuals responsible for the death of a police officer could undermine confidence among serving officers and the wider public.
They argued that the earlier release of offenders involved in the killing of emergency workers risked raising questions about the value placed on the service and sacrifice of those who put themselves in danger to protect others.
Beyond the Harper case, police leaders urged ministers to reassess how future sentence reductions are considered when offenders have committed particularly serious crimes.
They wrote: "Where an offender has caused a death, committed exceptionally serious violence, or presents an ongoing risk to individuals or communities, there should be explicit consideration of public protection, victim impact and community safety before release arrangements are amended."
The letter continued: "This is not simply a question of punishment. It is a question of ensuring that public protection, victim confidence and community safety remain central to decisions that may substantially reduce the time an offender spends in custody."
The chiefs also called for bereaved families and victims to be given greater consideration whenever major changes are made to sentencing frameworks or prisoner release arrangements.
Downing Street has pointed to previous remarks from the Prime Minister, who told journalists he would do "everything in his power" to prevent the release of Cole and Bowers if a lawful route could be identified.
The Government's early release programme was introduced as part of efforts to address severe prison capacity pressures. Approximately 5,000 prisoners are expected to be released under the scheme after exemptions were introduced for offenders convicted of the most serious crimes, including rape, child sexual offences and grooming.
However, the planned release of PC Harper's killers has become one of the most high-profile tests of the policy.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the intervention from police chiefs as highly significant. Speaking to journalists, he said that during more than a decade in Parliament, including time as policing minister, he had never witnessed every chief constable effectively unite in a direct appeal to a Prime Minister on a matter of criminal justice policy.
Philp said ministers should listen carefully to the concerns raised by policing leaders, arguing that public confidence and community safety must remain central considerations.
The latest development follows renewed efforts by PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, who has been campaigning for stronger protections for emergency workers and for changes to the release scheme.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Adlam recently received assurances from a senior Downing Street official that the Prime Minister wanted to do everything possible to find a solution before January.
Speaking to journalists, she said the contact had given her hope, although she remained cautious about the outcome.
Adlam has repeatedly stressed that her campaign extends beyond her son's case and seeks broader reforms to ensure those responsible for killing emergency service workers are excluded from similar early release arrangements in future.
As January approaches, attention is now likely to focus on whether ministers can identify a lawful mechanism to prevent the release of Cole and Bowers and whether the wider sentencing framework will face further review amid growing concern from police leaders, victims' families and criminal justice stakeholders.
