Members urged to contact their MP over early release of PC Andrew Harper killers

21 August 2026

Suffolk Police Federation is urging people to contact their local MP and support the campaign to prevent 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.

 

PC Andrew Harper

 

More than one million people have now signed a petition calling for them both to remain in prison.

Now Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris is urging people to keep the campaign momentum going by contacting their local MP before Parliament returns on 1 September.

He said: “More than a million people have signed the petition, which is extraordinary and shows the strength of feeling across the country.

“We want to keep that going and are asking people to make their views known directly to their elected representatives.

Upsetting

“PC Andrew Harper was killed while protecting the public. His family, friends and colleagues have already had to endure an unimaginable loss, and the prospect of his killers being released early is, understandably, deeply upsetting.

“We are urging our members and the wider public to take a few minutes to write to their MP and ask them to support the campaign for a change in the law to ensure those convicted of killing police officers do not get an early release from their sentence.

“This is about standing together as a policing family and showing our support for Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues.

“It is also about making clear that the Government must ensure the law properly reflects the seriousness of crimes committed against police officers.”

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 for people to cut and paste into an email.

Darren said: “Parliament returns at the start of next month and it’s important MPs understand the level of public feeling and are able to do something about it.

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

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]