Members urged to contact MP to maintain campaign momentum

25 August 2026

Northamptonshire Police Federation members are being urged to contact their MP to support the campaign to block the early release of two men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper.

PC Harper was killed in August 2019 after being dragged behind a car while attempting to stop a group stealing a quad bike in Berkshire.

Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were both 17, were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

However, the pair could be set for an early release under Government plans to ease pressure on the prison system.

Petition

A petition calling for them to remain in prison for their full sentences has passed one million signatures.

Now branch chair Sam Dobbs is calling on Federation members to contact their MP to ensure the issue is on the political agenda when Parliament returns on 1 September.

Sam said: “For the petition to receive more than a million signatures is extraordinary and should send a very clear message to the Government about the strength of feeling around the country.

“However, the campaign won’t end there.

 

PC Andrew Harper

 

“We’re asking our members and the wider public to take a few minutes to contact their MP, if they haven’t already done so.

“We want to make them fully aware just how strongly police officers, their families, and the public feel about the potential early release of two people convicted over the death of a police officer when Parliament returns next month.”

Earlier this month, Northamptonshire Police Federation joined Northamptonshire Superintendents’ Association in calling for the Government to reconsider the potential early release arrangements.

Sam said at the time that allowing people convicted of killing a police officer to benefit from early release would send the wrong message about the value placed on those who protect the public.

Open letter

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet was among 50 police chiefs to sign an open letter calling for stronger protections for victims and communities when release arrangements change.

Sam said that the campaign was about justice for PC Harper, his family and colleagues, and also about ensuring police officers have the support of the criminal justice system when they are attacked.

Sam said: “PC Harper’s family have had to live with an unimaginable loss since 2019. “The proposed reduction in the sentence of two of his killers is bringing all that pain and heartbreak back again, and we want to send a clear message of support to them.

“And also, assaults on police officers are rising and we need to ensure that those who do attack officers feel the full weight of the law.

The petition remains open, and members and members of the public who have not yet signed are being encouraged to add their names.

Letter

Members can find their local MP and their contact details by entering their postcode on the official Parliament website: Find your MP

A template letter is below and included for people to use as inspiration to personalise and write to their MP.

 

Dear [MP NAME],

I am writing as your constituent to ask you to support the campaign to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. I am deeply concerned that changes to early release under the Government’s new Sentencing Act could mean that two of the men responsible for PC Harper’s death are released from prison before they have served their full sentence.

Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every single day to keep the rest of us safe.

They run towards danger when others run away, knowing that there is always a possibility they may not make it home to their families.

Allowing those responsible for killing an officer in the line of duty to benefit from early release would send a terrible message to police officers across the country about how we value their service and sacrifice.

I believe that PC Harper’s family and colleagues deserve better. I am therefore asking you, as my MP, to urge the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary to make urgent changes to the Early Release Scheme, so that PC Andrew Harper’s killers remain behind bars for the duration of their original sentence.

I look forward to hearing from you.

[NAME]

[POSTCODE]

 

READ MORE: Andrew Harper petition shows strength of feeling across the country.