Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner KPM has joined senior policing figures from across the UK in calling on the Prime Minister to prevent the early release of those responsible for the death of PC Andrew Harper.
An open letter, published on Tuesday evening (11 August), was signed by 50 police and law-enforcement leaders.
It welcomed the Prime Minister’s instruction to the Justice Secretary to examine what could lawfully be done to keep those responsible for PC Harper’s death behind bars.
The letter also called for stronger protections for victims and communities when release arrangements involving the most serious offenders are changed.
Its signatories urged the Government to give full consideration to Harper’s Law, which recognises the exceptional risks taken by emergency workers while protecting the public.
Chief Constable Shiner said: “The tragic death of PC Andrew Harper continues to be felt deeply across policing.
"I urge the Prime Minister to not only find a way to keep those responsible for this heinous crime in custody, but also to ensure that other victims of crime are not let down by a system which should have been fixed many years ago.
"It is entirely unacceptable that offenders of serious crimes are being released early, and that their victims are being let down because the prisons are full, when this was foreseeable.
"As one of the signatories to this letter, and having signed the petition, I am hopeful that the right outcome in this case and others will prevail."
PC Harper, who served with Thames Valley Police, died while protecting the public on 15 August 2019. Two men were convicted of his manslaughter the following year.
The full open letter has been published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Read the full letter here: Fifty police chiefs call on PM to prevent PC Harper killers release
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