Members urged to write to MPs over early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers

25 August 2026

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

The appeal comes as a petition calling for PC Harper’s killers to remain behind bars has passed one million signatures.

PC Harper, 28, was killed in August 2019 after being dragged behind a car while responding to the theft of a quad bike in Berkshire.

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

Sentences

However, under changes to the prisoner release system, they could become eligible for release before completing their sentences.

Now North Wales Police Federation chair Trystan Bevan is calling on members to write to their MP over the issue before Parliament returns on 1 September.

Trystan said: “The sheer number of people who have signed the petition underlines the sense of injustice that is felt across the country.

“Now is the time to make our elected representatives aware of that strength of feeling as they are preparing to return to Westminster.

 

PC Andrew Harper

 

“We are encouraging as many people as possible to take just a few minutes to write to their MP to ask them to support a change in the law to ensure offenders convicted of killing a police officer serve their full sentence.”

Federation branches across England and Wales have joined the campaign and urged their members and the public to contact their MPs.

North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman joined police chiefs from across England and Wales in signing an open letter to the Justice Secretary calling for stronger protections for victims and communities when release arrangements change.

Trystan said: “The policing family stands with PC Harper’s family and his former Thames Valley Police colleagues.

Campaign

“This is a chance for the Government and MPs to stand with them as well and to show their support for our members, who put themselves in harm’s way every day.

“I’d encourage every member who feels strongly about this issue to contact their MP and ask them to support the campaign for change.

“The more MPs hear from their constituents, the harder it becomes to ignore the strength of public feeling.”

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

Response

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 for members to cut and paste into an email.

Members can share any responses from their MP with the branch by emailing FedAdmin@nwpf.polfed.org 

 

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]