- Published
The chief constable of Thames Valley Police says he will consider joining legal action to block the release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
asserted
he → publish → killers
Chief Constable Jason Hogg told the BBC he was in discussion with the Police Federation of England and Wales over the matter, adding public opinion on their potential release was "overwhelming".
PC Harper, who served with Thames Valley, was killed in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road as three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.
The two passengers in the car, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were sentenced in 2020 to 13 years for manslaughter and could apply for early release after serving half of their sentences.
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release.
uncertain
driver → tell → release
Speaking on the Today programme, Thames Valley Police chief Jason Hogg urged the government to reconsider its position.
asserted
Hogg → speak → position
Only prisoners convicted of murder, rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences will be excluded from the scheme in England and Wales - while those convicted of manslaughter remain eligible.
"I fully understand the challenges around the crisis in the prison system," he said.
asserted
he → convict → system
"But the decision made and where that line has been drawn, I do not believe that people responsible for taking the life of another citizen in our country should be released early."
asserted
people → make → country
He said on Wednesday: "I was informed yesterday that the Police Federation are considering legal action, I am in discussions with the Police Federation with regards to this matter".
asserted
I → say → matter
Asked whether this meant he would join them, he said: "I think we need to get some legal advice in relation to this.
asserted
we → ask → this
This is something I certainly would consider."
asserted
I → consider → ?
After campaigning by PC Harper's wife Lissie following his death, Parliament passed "Harper's Law", which gives mandatory life sentences to the killers of emergency services workers.
asserted
which → campaign → workers
It doubles the maximum penalty from 12 months to two years for those who assault police or other emergency workers.
asserted
who → double → police
But the new rules - introduced in 2022 - did not apply in the sentencing of the police officer's killers, and so do not prevent them from being released early.
asserted
rules → introduce → them
Hogg said: "The law isn't retrospective and we all understand that, but the fact that they are released early simply seems perverse."
asserted
they → say → that
Aileen O'Connor, branch chair of Thames Valley Police Federation also told the BBC her organisation was considering legal action.
asserted
organisation → tell → action
"We are in talks this morning, I'll get an update this afternoon whether that is an avenue that we can explore and if it is an avenue we can explore then I'll get behind that 110%," she told BBC Breakfast.
asserted
she → get → Breakfast
As for what shape a potential legal challenge might take, she said: "Ultimately that's for the specialists, the barristers and those in that legal sector to make that decision whether there is a challenge there.
uncertain
specialists → take → decision
"If there is a challenge then we will look to take that challenge."
asserted
we → be → challenge
Sentencing Minister Jake Richards told the BBC it would be wrong to pick out individual cases and block two of PC Harper's killers from early release.
asserted
it → tell → release
Although the government had reviewed what sentences would be excluded from the early release scheme, he confirmed "manslaughter is not one of those offences".
asserted
manslaughter → review → offences
Richards said: "It would be wrong to pick out individual cases within different offending cohorts.
asserted
It → say → cohorts
On Tuesday Justice Secretary Alex Norris warned a prison capacity crisis would be likely if fewer prisoners were allowed early release.
asserted
prisoners → warn → release
Norris apologised to families who would be affected by the early release scheme and stressed that the government wanted to go further "but we cannot".
asserted
we → apologise → scheme
"We have to make this decision, we've been able to make some changes to it, but we have to have the rest of the sentencing act changes otherwise we run out of prison places in November and that can't happen," he said.
asserted
he → have → November
The justice secretary said 5,000 extra releases will take place in 10 batches from October.
asserted
releases → say → October
Approximately 1,000 prisoners will now not be released early following the revision to the scheme, he clarified.
asserted
he → release → scheme
The government also announced an extra £10m will go to front-line victim support services, including a new national helpline.
asserted
m → announce → helpline
The Aporia
