PC Harper petition hits one million signatures as plans form to keep killers in jail

• More than one million people have signed a petition calling on the government to block the early prison release of two men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper.
• Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020 and are currently scheduled for release in January, halfway through their sentences.
• The Thames Valley Police Federation launched the petition after ministers failed to exempt killers of emergency workers from a scheme designed to reduce prison overcrowding.
• Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that he is confident that efforts to expand prison capacity will prevent the early release of serious offenders like PC Harper's killers.
• The late police officer’s mother, Debbie Adlam, expressed cautious hope following a phone call from Downing Street, despite describing the original release plans as a rush job.

IN FULL

One million people sign petition to block PC Andrew Harper’s killers from early release