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

WorldPolitics
14 Aug 2026 • 4:13 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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.

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