Write to your MP: campaign to stop early release of PC Harper’s killers continues

21 August 2026

North Yorkshire Police Federation is urging people to ask their local MP to support the nationwide campaign to block the early release of two men convicted of killing 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.

PC Andrew Harper

The campaign has already generated enormous public support. A petition calling for Bowers and Cole to remain in prison has passed one million signatures.

North Yorkshire Police Federation secretary Tony Barnes said: “We have seen the strength of feeling across the country.

“More than a million people have already signed the petition, which should send an unmistakable message to Parliament.

“We want to follow that up by urging our MPs to support the campaign when they return to Parliament on 1 September.

Campaign

“Politicians need to understand just how strongly people feel about this issue and how important it is to police officers and their families.

“We owe it to PC Harper, his family, his Thames Valley Police colleagues, and officers up and down the country, to ensure that the sentence imposed by the courts is served.”

People can find their MP and their email address by putting their postcode into the website: members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

There is a template letter below that people can copy and paste into an email to their MP.

Tony added: “People do have a voice in this, and we would urge them to make it heard.

“Contact your MP, tell them what you think and ask them what they are doing to ensure Andrew Harper’s killers serve the sentence imposed upon them.

Colleagues

“We continue to stand with PC Harper’s family and with our colleagues in Thames Valley.

“The Government must now listen and act.”

Members can share responses received from their MP with the branch by emailing YourFederationNYPF@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]