Write to your MP to block early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers

20 August 2026

Nottinghamshire Police Federation is urging members and the public to ask their MP to support the campaign to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers.

Branch vice chair Jaz Chaplain is calling on people to write to their MP and urge the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary to change the Early Release Scheme.

It comes as a petition calling for PC Harper’s killers to remain in prison has received more than one million signatures.

Jaz said: “The extraordinary number of signatures on the petition reflects the strength of feeling across the country over the potential early release of PC Harper’s killers.

 

PC Andrew Harper

 

“To allow his killers to be released early would be an insult to PC Harper, his family and colleagues, and would send out an awful message about how we value our brave police officers.

“Parliament sits again on 1 September and it’s important that when our elected representatives return, they understand the level of public feeling and are able to do something about it.

“Which is why we’re encouraging people to write to their MP to support the Federation’s campaign and secure the change in the law that we want.”

Manslaughter

PC Harper, who was 28, died after getting dragged by a car when he tried to stop a group towing away a stolen quad bike in Berkshire in August 2019.

Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were given a 13-year prison sentence for manslaughter but might be eligible to be released from prison halfway through their sentences under plans to ease prison overcrowding.

This has prompted a strong response from police officers and Federation branches across the country.

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has repeatedly raised concerns with the Government about the inclusion in early release schemes of violent offenders who have targeted police officers.

Jaz said: “Our members put themselves in harm’s way every day and they deserve to know they have the support of the public and Government if anything happens to them.

Template

“This is an opportunity for the new Prime Minister and his Government to show their support for police officers.”

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

There is a template letter below you can copy and paste into an email to them.

Please feel free to email any responses from your MP to nottinghamshire@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]