PC Harper killers' potential early release is an 'insult', says his mother

Image source, Family photo Image caption, Police officer Andrew Harper suffered fatal injuries while on duty in 2019 By Curtis Lancaster South of England Published 22 July 2026, 07:50 BST Updated 6 minutes ago The mother of police officer Andrew Harper has said it feels like an "insult" that two of her son's killers may be eligible for early release from prison. PC Harper was 28 years old when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead , Berkshire, in August 2019. He died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and both 17 at the time, were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020. Image caption, PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam said it felt "like a slap in the face" Both men might be eligible to be released from prison halfway through their sentences, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed. Under the new Sentencing Act, due to come into force in September, some 6,000 criminals are set to be released under the early prison release scheme. The government has so far failed to rule out whether killers, rapists and paedophiles will be exempt from the scheme. The driver of the vehicle which caused PC Harper's death, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence, and will not be eligible for the scheme. Image caption, A tribute to PC Harper sits opposite Reading Crown Court Speaking to The Telegraph, PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam said she had received a letter from the MoJ confirming their sentences might be reduced. She said: "It makes me feel sick. Andrew's life doesn't get to come back. It feels like a slap in the face and an insult." She added that "people are getting a free pass for crime" in the UK. An MoJ spokesperson said: "This was a horrific crime, and our deepest sympathies are with PC Andrew Harper's family and friends. "In 2024, the country was facing a prison crisis and a total breakdown of law and order, with judges ordered to stop jailing dangerous criminals. "This government is committed to public safety: we are building prison places at the fastest rate since the Victorian era, and taking the difficult decisions needed to lock up the most dangerous offenders." The government has insisted the Act will not see early releases for offenders deemed "the most dangerous", including those on extended determinate or life sentences. Image source, Thames Valley Police Image caption, Jessie Cole, Henry Long and Albert Bowers (L-R) were convicted of killing PC Harper The Police Federation of England & Wales responded to The Telegraph story on X, calling the early release policy "disgusting". Deputy national chairman Brian Booth said: "Police officers from across the country stood side by side to honour Andrew Harper at his funeral. "They and every serving officer will be utterly sickened at the pr