Thames Valley Chief Weighs Legal Action To Block Early Release Of PC Andrew Harper’s Killers

Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police has said he is considering joining legal action to prevent two men convicted in the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper from being released early under the government’s revised early-release scheme.

Chief Constable Says He Is In Talks With Police Federation

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hogg said he was in discussions with the Police Federation about potential legal steps and described public feeling about the possible releases as "overwhelming." He added that he would seek legal advice but that joining an action was something he would "certainly consider."

Case Background

PC Andrew Harper, who served with Thames Valley Police, died in 2019 after being dragged along a country lane by a car while three teenagers fled the scene of a quad-bike theft in Berkshire. In 2020, two passengers in the vehicle—Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers—were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years in prison; under current rules they could apply for early release after serving half their term. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for the same early-release provision.

Why The Releases Are Controversial

Parliament introduced "Harper's Law" in 2022 after campaigning by Mr Harper’s widow, Lissie, increasing maximum penalties for assaults on emergency workers and creating harsher sentences in some cases. However, the law is not retrospective and did not apply at the time of the defendants’ sentencing, so it does not prevent the two manslaughter convictions from qualifying for early release.

Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers (right) were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 [PA Media]

"I fully understand the challenges around the crisis in the prison system," Mr Hogg said on the BBC's Today programme. "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."

Government Response And Wider Context

Justice Minister Jake Richards told the BBC that it would be wrong and unlawful to single out individual cases to block release, and confirmed that manslaughter is not among the offences excluded from the government’s early-release scheme. He said: "It would be wrong to pick out individual cases within different offending cohorts. That wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be lawful either."

Justice Secretary Alex Norris warned that excluding additional offence categories from the scheme would likely trigger a prison-capacity crisis, saying that unless changes were limited the prison estate could run out of places in November. Under the revised plan, about 5,000 extra releases will occur in ten batches from October, with roughly 1,000 fewer prisoners released early following recent revisions. The government also announced an additional £10m for front-line victim support services, including a new national helpline.

What Happens Next

Mr Hogg said he was awaiting legal advice and that the Police Federation was also considering action. Any court challenge would need to address whether the government’s approach to the early-release scheme lawfully treats individual offence categories and whether exceptions are required in particular cases.

Facts at a glance: Two convicted of manslaughter (13 years) may apply for early release after half their terms; driver (16 years) is ineligible; Harper’s Law is not retrospective; ministers maintain manslaughter is not excluded from the new regime.