PC Andrew Harper petition nears one million signatures as Federation says this has ‘gone beyond the uniform’

12 August 2026

A petition calling for the killers of PC Andrew Harper to remain in prison has attracted almost one million signatures, as anger continues to grow over the prospect of two of those convicted of his death being released early.

For officers, the scale of the public response has been hugely significant.

“As a Federation, we continue to campaign for better pay for our officers and improved working conditions. But this isn’t about any of that. This is about what it means when an officer’s life is taken,” said West Mercia Police Federation chair Gareth Spreadbury.

“But this has gone beyond the uniform - it’s impacted the nation, not just those in policing.

PC Andrew Harper

“We are over the moon to see such support nationally, from the public. I think what’s happened is that people are looking at this and asking themselves, ‘what if this was my husband, my brother, my dad?’ What is life worth if those who kill can be released so early?”

And the petition’s near one-million signatures, he said, demonstrate the strength of feeling across the country.

“Surely this shows the mood of the nation?” said Gareth, who said even having these conversations will influence the overall trust people have in the justice system.

“Regardless of the outcome, I think this has already caused distrust in the justice system. These conversations are already happening – and they shouldn’t.”

Prisoner release

The controversy centres on changes to the prisoner release system being introduced as part of the Government’s response to severe prison overcrowding.

Under the new arrangements, thousands of prisoners in England and Wales were due to become eligible for release earlier than would previously have been the case, with the first releases under the new Sentencing Act expected from September.

The policy was intended to create much-needed capacity across an overcrowded prison estate.

It was the discovery that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could potentially fall within the scope of the new arrangements that brought the issue into sharp focus.

Cole and Bowers were both sentenced to 13 years in custody for manslaughter following the death of Thames Valley PC Harper. The pair had been passengers in the vehicle involved in the incident and were 17 at the time. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for the scheme.

The possibility that Cole and Bowers could benefit from the new release arrangements has prompted anger from PC Harper’s family, policing organisations and victims’ groups.

Killers

His widow, Lissie Harper, has described the prospect of the killers being released early as 'deplorable', while his mother, Debbie Adlam, said the possibility represented another profound let-down for the family.

The issue is particularly striking because of the changes brought about by Harper’s Law, following Lissie Harper’s campaign after her husband’s death.

Harper’s Law introduced mandatory life sentences for unlawful-act manslaughter where the victim is an emergency worker acting in the course of their duties, subject to exceptional circumstances. However, the law came after PC Harper’s death and therefore did not apply retrospectively to his killers.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham subsequently announced a pause to the new early-release policy and ordered an urgent review.

For serving police officers, the issue has particular resonance because of the risks they face every day.

“Despite the current headlines, officers continue to put on their stab vests and respond to dangerous situations, often running towards danger while others are moving away,” said Gareth, adding: “They do so with the knowledge that there is always a risk they may not return home.

Protection

“Our oath is to save life. We do that every day, impartially, without resistance and without thought."

He said officers need to know that the Government will support them if the worst happens.

“There is a police officer somewhere, going out on a job, wondering if they will go home alive tonight,” he said.

“And at the same time, they will be wondering if they have the support of the Government. They will be asking themselves – will the Government have my back if anything happens to me?

"The central question remains, what protection and support can officers expect when they put their lives on the line?"

For Gareth, that question goes to the heart of the campaign.

“If they release these people early, there is no hope, no trust,” he said. “How are we meant to get behind the Government?”

Government

Aileen O’Connor, chair of Thames Valley Police Federation, who launched the campaign, has vowed not to stop until the Government acts.

Gareth said: “The Federation will not stop. I will not stop until this is signed, sealed and delivered,” continued Gareth, who believes the huge public response presents an opportunity for the Government to demonstrate that it has listened.

“This is a real chance for Andy Burnham and the Government to show that they will do things differently.

“If he isn’t listening to the collective national mood, the public won’t be behind him.”

For Gareth, the petition now represents something much bigger than a campaign led by police officers.

Almost one million people have chosen to add their names to it.

“The message is about fairness,” he said, ending: “It is about accountability.

“And it is about whether the loss of a life - including the life of a police officer who died serving the public - should carry lasting consequences.”

You can sign the petition here.