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A police federation is threatening to take legal action against Andy Burnham's decision to allow the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers. The federation's chair, Aileen O'Connor, said she would 'throw everything' at trying to block Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers from being freed under Labour's early release scheme.
A police federation is threatening to take legal action against Andy Burnham's 'unforgivable decision' to allow the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers. Aileen O'Connor, the chair of Thames Valley Police Federation, said she would 'throw everything' at trying to block Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers from being freed under Labour's early release scheme.
PC Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, was killed in August 2019 when responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. Cole and Bowers – who were each handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial into PC Harper's death at the Old Bailey in 2020 – remain eligible for early release despite a huge public outcry at them possibly serving only half their sentences.
The Government has performed a partial U-turn on its early release plans by exempting rapists and child sex offenders from the scheme to tackle overcrowding in jails. But, despite conducting an 'urgent review' of the scheme, the Prime Minister is still allowing Cole and Bowers to be eligible for early release. Mr Burnham, who is currently on holiday abroad with his family after little more than two weeks in office, is now facing the prospect of a legal battle.
Writing in the Sun, Ms O'Connor said she would 'not forget the Government's inexplicable and unforgivable decision to allow those who kill police officers to be released early from jail'. PC Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, was killed in August 2019 when responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers were each handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial into PC Harper's death at the Old Bailey in 2020 Despite conducting an 'urgent review' of the early release scheme, Andy Burnham is still allowing Cole and Bowers to be eligible for early release.
'We will throw everything at this through a proper legal challenge from KCs, barristers, you name it. Our colleagues will accept nothing less,' she said.
'We will do what we have to do to protect Andrew Harper's legacy and other victims up and down the country who don't have a platform to put their points across. ' She added: 'It is a final betrayal from the politicians, who are supposed to be on our side. 'A smack in the face to every one of us police officers across the UK, who are out there now risking our lives to keep you, the public, safe.
' Ms O'Connor said it was an 'insult' to his family, friends and police across the country. She also told Times Radio on Wednesday morning: 'I feel sick to my stomach, if I'm really honest with you. I've had a gut wrenching feeling in my stomach the past couple of weeks with this, and it doesn't go away.
'And arguably, I would say that many of my members across Thames Valley also have this gut wrenching feeling, even at the prospect of these two killers being released in the space of weeks, potentially. ' She said that she felt a 'glimmer of hope' when the PM decided to review the early release scheme and that it was a 'sickening kick in the teeth' that the Government has decided this policy is 'acceptable'.
Jason Hogg, the chief constable of Thames Valley Police, said he would 'certainly consider' joining the Police Federation's legal action against the early release of PC Harper's killers.
'The fact they will be released early feels perverse,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'It's fair to say police officers simply do not understand this decision. 'I was informed yesterday that the Police Federation are considering taking legal action and I am in discussion with them. I think we need get legal advice.
'I do think the public opinion is overwhelming on this matter. I do believe it's unfair and I do believe confidence in the criminal justice system risks being damaged and it's important for the Government to look into this matter.
' He also told BBC Breakfast of his 'worry' about 'the morale not only of Thames Valley Police, but also of the wider work force of policing across the UK'. 'From the letters and emails that I've got, I think the public feel like this decision is unfair and it's wrong that somebody who killed an emergency service worker is released early,' he added. 'I would urge the Government to look again at this issue.
I know it's a difficult situation because of the prison crisis that we have but I would urge the Government to look again because I do think there's a risk of impacting confidence in the criminal justice system.
' PC Harper's wife Lissie has expressed fury at the prospect her late husband's killers could be released early. She said their early release would be 'an affront to justice' and 'an utter betrayal'. PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, said the family was 'bitterly disappointed' by the decision, telling the BBC: 'Andrew deserves better than this, and so do we.
' A petition started by the Police Federation on Tuesday has already reached 100,000 signature
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PC Andrew Harper Quad Bike Theft Sulhamstead Berkshire Manslaughter Old Bailey Early Release Scheme Andy Burnham Legal Battle Police Federation Jason Hogg Debbie Adlam Lissie Petition
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