Burnham orders plans to be drawn up to stop release of Andrew Harper’s killers
Debbie Adlam urges Andy Burnham to exempt son's killers from early release scheme
Last updated 11th Aug 2026
The mother of a Thames Valley Police officer, who died in the line of duty, has requested a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham to discuss the Government’s early release scheme that may see her son's killers freed early.
PC Andrew Harper was fatally injured in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. He was caught in a strap attached to a fleeing vehicle and dragged down a country road.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Under current plans, they are eligible for release in January, halfway through their sentences.
More than 880,000 people have signed a petition to keep them in jail, arguing for tougher measures against those convicted of killing emergency service workers.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces significant public pressure to prevent the early release of Cole and Bowers.
Despite the concerns, Downing Street stated it is “not possible” to exempt one or two offenders within the wider category of manslaughter.
The Prime Minister emphasised that he is keen on resolving issues surrounding prison system capacity to prevent future crises.
Aileen O’Connor, chairwoman of Thames Valley Police Federation, has described the Government's stance as “indefensible” and implored for action to block the early release.
She stated: “If you kill a police officer, there should be no early release. No ifs. No buts.”
The sentiment is echoed across the nation as more citizens express outrage, urging politicians to prioritise public safety and justice over logistical challenges in the prison system.
The early release changes were brought about by the Sentencing Act passed earlier in 2026. The Act cut the minimum duration an offender must serve in prison while imposing tougher probation conditions for those released.
The scheme aims to combat overcrowding, reducing the number of offenders expected to leave prison early from 6,000 to 5,000 following exemptions.
Offenders will face electronic monitoring, random drug testing, and possible bans from activities such as driving, and attending pubs or football matches.
A Government spokesperson confirmed: “The Prime Minister has asked the Justice Secretary to work through further options to keep a greater number of the most serious offenders, including the killers of Pc Harper, in prison.”
Despite the Justice Secretary's task, Downing Street previously stated it was “not possible” to exempt individual offenders within the broader manslaughter category from early release.