Lissie Harper, widow of PC Andrew Harper who was killed in 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft, is leading a petition calling for his killers to be denied early release from prison. As of recently, the petition had over 440,000 signatures. The government's updated plans to tackle prison overcrowding would allow two of PC Harper's killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, to become eligible for release next year. Justice Secretary Alex Norris argues that releasing prisoners on licence would subject them to "very significant controls" and claims the government is trying to avoid a prison capacity crisis by excluding some offenders from early release.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Thames Valley Police Chief Jason Hogg is considering joining legal action to block the early release of two teenagers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were convicted of manslaughter in the death of PC Andrew Harper. The police chief spoke out on a BBC radio program, saying that public opinion on their potential release was "overwhelming". PC Harper was killed in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road in Berkshire, and Cole and Bowers were each sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter. They will become eligible for early release after serving half of their sentences, which would be around 6-7 years.
The chief constable is urging the government to reconsider its position on early release, as only prisoners convicted of murder, rape, grooming, and serious child sex offenses are excluded from the scheme in England and Wales. The government has stated that it is trying to avert a prison capacity crisis.
Meanwhile, PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, has started a petition calling for her husband's killers to be denied early release, which has gained over 440,000 signatures. She said she "will not give up" in her fight against the early release of Cole and Bowers.
Written for “PC Harper Murder Case” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
The widow of a police officer has said she hopes people will share a petition calling for his killers to be denied early release from prison, insisting she "will not give up".
asserted
she → publish → prison
PC Andrew Harper, from Wallingford, died in 2019 when he was dragged by a car as three teenagers fled the scene of a Berkshire quad bike theft.
Under updated plans to tackle prison overcrowding, two of PC Harper's killers - Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - would be eligible for release next year.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said the government was trying to avert "a prison capacity crisis".
Lissie Harper said: "Hopefully we can make the current government come to their senses and realise we cannot put people like this back on our streets.
asserted
we → die → streets
"Justice should mean justice and serving the sentence given."
asserted
Justice → mean → sentence
As of just after 08:30 BST, the petition had over 440,000 signatures.
asserted
petition → have → signatures
It was started by Aileen O'Connor, chair of Thames Valley Police Federation.
asserted
It → start → Federation
Cole and Bowers were each sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020, and will become eligible for release after serving half of their sentences.
asserted
Cole → sentence → sentences
The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible.
asserted
driver → receive → sentence
On Monday, the government announced revised plans that would exclude prisoners who had committed rape, grooming, and serious child sex offences from an early release scheme for England and Wales.
asserted
who → announce → England
O'Connor told the BBC the news was "having a huge impact on morale".
asserted
news → tell → morale
She added: "Lissie Harper, [PC Harper's] parents, his brother, his family, his close friends - they are serving the life sentence of not having Andrew Harper here today fulfilling his best potential for his life."
asserted
they → add → life
In the wake of PC Harper's death, Lissie Harper campaigned for harsher sentences for the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty.
asserted
Harper → campaign → duty
It means that, if convicted today, his killers would not be eligible for the early release scheme.
asserted
killers → mean → scheme
In a statement, Lissie said: "Seven years later, we are now faced with a secondary gut punch that is coming from our own government.
asserted
that → say → government
The sentences Andrew's killers received were pitiful - and the fact we are hearing these absurd reasons for early release like prisons being too full is disgraceful and disgusting.
"
asserted
prisons → receive → release
The people making these decisions should be utterly ashamed of themselves."
asserted
people → make → themselves
'Prison crisis'
The government said it was trying to avoid running out of prison spaces as soon as October this year.
asserted
it → say → October
The justice secretary said about 1,000 prisoners would now not be released early following the revision to the scheme.
asserted
prisoners → say → scheme
"If we drew it any wider we would have a prison capacity crisis," Alex Norris said.
asserted
Norris → draw → crisis
Prisoners released on licence, he said, would be subject to "very significant controls on their lives" and victims would be consulted.
asserted
victims → release → lives
But Olivia Bailey, the Labour MP for the Reading and Mid West constituency, said: "PC Harper's killers should not be eligible for early release, and I am deeply disappointed that the government have not exempted them from the early release scheme following their review.
asserted
government → say → review
"I will continue to do whatever I can to challenge this decision."
asserted
I → continue → decision
