I’VE BEEN TURNED INSIDE OUT—PC ANDREW HARPER’S MUM BREAKS DOWN OVER GOVERNMENT U-TURN AS KI-LLERS’ RELEASE PLANS DESCEND INTO CHAOS
THE mother of PC Andrew Harper has said she had been “turned inside out” after a chaotic Government U-turn over the early release of his killers.
After days of confusion, Andy Burnham said he was “increasingly confident” a way could be found to prevent thugs Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole being allowed out of jail.
Andrew Harper’s mum Debbie Adlam says she’s been ‘turned inside out’ after a Government U-turn over the early release of her son’s killersCredit: PA
PC Andrew Harper was dragged to his death in 2019 as he attempted to stop thieves stealing a quad bikeCredit: Thames Valley Police/PA Wire
But the PM stopped short of confirming how, or whether the pair will remain locked up.
Officials had spent days briefing that it was proving too hard to stop the duo’s early release without tipping crowded prisons into chaos.
PC Harper’s mum, Debbie Adlam, blasted the “gut-wrenching” confusion as she revealed Downing Street had called her to claim the PM was doing “everything he can”.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I just don’t know how to think, how to feel. It’s turned me inside out.” Separately, she said: “It feels like a hash . . . a rush job.
“It feels like nobody’s put enough effort into actually look for reasons or ways. We are having to push on every level. They [Bowers and Cole] weren’t given extreme sentences.
“I’m only asking for them to do what they were given.”
Claire Waxman, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, accused the PM of “flip-flopping” over early release. She said: “I’m not really sure what to call it other than “flip-flopping”.
“From a victim’s perspective, the position appears to keep changing.”
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole smirking as they are led away in cuffsCredit: The Sun
Andrew’s mum Debbie blasted the ‘gut-wrenching’ confusionCredit: PA
Thames Valley Police Federation chairwoman Aileen O’Connor, who started the petition calling for Bowers and Cole to be kept inside, said that Labour had “sent a deeply troubling message” about the value it placed on police officers.
Ms O’Connor, whose petition had last night been signed by more than 950,000 people, said: “Their actions so far have been totally demoralising for all police officers.”
She accepted, however, that there was now a “glimmer of hope”.
Newly-married PC Harper died after getting caught up in a strap attached to the rear of a car.
He was dragged more than a mile as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berks, in 2019. Bowers and Cole, both 17 at the time of the crime, got 13 years in 2020 after being convicted of manslaughter.
They are due for release next year after completing half of their sentences but before this year’s Sentencing Act they would have served two-thirds.
Hopes were raised for PC Harper’s family when the PM ordered a review of the scheme.
Changes were made including preventing rapists and paedophiles from being let out early — but not include those convicted of manslaughter like Bowers and Cole.
PC Andrew Harper’s widow said she was ‘disgusted’ his killers will be freedCredit: PA
Widow Lissie Harper has been a fierce critic of the Government’s handling over plans for her husband’s killers’ early releaseCredit: PA
The PM has said he does not want any lags let out early and has asked for three areas to be examined with a view to this aim.
He wants to increase the rate at which foreign criminals are sent back to their country of origin.
He is also looking to fix the dispute over Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences — abolished in 2012 — under which more than 2,300 people are indefinitely detained or trapped in a cycle of lifelong recall, and the release of lower-risk offenders.
Another possibility is the use of female jails for male criminals.
Mr Burnham said: “I’ve heard the depth of concern felt across the country about the potential release of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.
“Obviously I feel for the family and the anguish they’re going through. What I’ve done since I came into office is push the system every single day to go further.
“I’ve not accepted it’s impossible to do more. I believe there is more that can be done.”
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said the PM was “really clear” the plan would keep the worst offenders in jail.
PC Harper’s family have slammed PM Andy Burnham over the Government’s chaotic U-turnCredit: AFP
PC Harpers’ killers Jessie Cole and Albert BowersCredit: PA
Justice Secretary Alex Norris will draw up plans ready for Parliament’s return from its summer break.
Victims’ Commissioner Ms Waxman added: “While I understand the new Prime Minister is finding this new sentencing legislation very difficult, it’s legislation that got passed and came in in January.
“If he doesn’t like it then it doesn’t commence — but that means we’ll run out of spaces in prison.
“But he’s got to make a decision. And he should have done when he announced the outcome of the review last week.
“I think we’re losing sight of the thousands of people that this is impacting across the country.
“Bereaved families want clarity about what lies ahead. Continued uncertainty is only adding to their distress.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Andy Burnham and Labour are re-traumatising victims and their families with their constant U-turns.
“It’s clear that good vibes and a snazzy T-shirt do not make for competent government.
“Mr Burnham is letting down victims and their families every day. It’s not good enough.”
Meanwhile, probation officers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of potential strike action in protest against the early release scheme.
Ninety per cent of the members of Napo, the probation union, said the system was already struggling to cope, and that a bigger workload will put public safety at risk.
The Ministry of Justice said it was “disappointed” at the outcome of the indicative ballot after they agreed a pay increase earlier this year.
Napo national chair Ben Cockburn said: “This ballot wasn’t about members being too busy.
“It was professionals warning they cannot protect the public properly when there are not enough people to do the work.”
SOURCE: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40031431/pc-andrew-harpers-mum-fury-government-u-turn-killers/
