Newly married Thames Valley Police officer PC Andrew Harper (below) was killed on 15 August 2019 in terrible circumstances by three thugs who were convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder, receiving prison sentences of 16 years for the driver of the car and 13 years each for his two accomplices. The Attorney General is currently reviewing their sentences to see if they were too lenient.
It should be life
Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Harper has launched a campaign for 'Andrew’s Law' – which would see criminals convicted of killing emergency services workers spend the rest of their lives in jail.
Mrs Harper is working in conjunction with the Police Federation of England and Wales on the campaign and intends to call for the law change in high-profile meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel in coming weeks.
She is calling on the British public and politicians of all parties to back her in her campaign.
She said: “I pledge to my late husband to never stop until I have made the difference that this country clearly needs. I vow to stand strong and firm with so many other honourable people in our country to make the changes that we clearly know to be justified.
"I hope that by creating a new ‘Andrew’s Law’ – which sees any person who commits a crime resulting in the death of an emergency worker being jailed for life – that those that have to go through what I have been through in the future get the justice that they rightly deserve.
“The people responsible for wreaking utter despair and grief in all of our lives will spend an inadequate amount of time behind bars.
"These men who showed no remorse, no guilt or sorrow for taking such an innocent and heroic life away will find themselves able to live out the rest of their lives free and able to commit more crimes and continue to put people in danger when they are released in a very small number of years.”
The campaign has the backing of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which is working with Lissie on the timescales and legal drafting of her demands and high-profile politicians, including former Police Minister and Conservative MP Sir Mike Penning.
Darryl Preston – "I support the campaign"
Darry Preston, the Conservative candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner election next May said: "The police and other emergency services are employed by the state to keep us safe. When criminals seek to harm them while carrying out their duties then the state must protect them.
"If any member of our brave and dedicated emergency services are killed in the line of duty, then those responsible should spend the rest of their days in prison.
"I will be supporting the family of the late PC Harper and the Police Federation of England and Wales in campaigning for stiffer sentences. We are so very fortunate in our country that policing is by consent of the vast majority of law abiding citizens.
"A strong and clear message needs to be sent to criminals – assaults on our emergency workers will not be tolerated."
John Apter, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said: “Those responsible for such a wicked and deliberate crime have forfeited their right to freedom.
“The killing of a police officer should see those responsible face the rest of their lives in prison. If the law won’t allow that in these circumstances then the law must be changed. PC Andrew Harper was killed on duty in the most brutal and horrific way; his wife, family, colleagues and the public deserve justice. This is not justice.”
NOTES
Andrew's Law – Facebook page the official page for all the latest news and updates from Andrew's mother Deborah (and from where the photo at the top of this page was copied).
Andrew's Law – Twitter page, the official page to fight for law change by Deborah, Andrew's mother, who lost her son in August 2019.
The opening paragraphs (with minor edits) are taken from 'Federation backs Lissie Harper's 'Andrew's Law' campaign' on the Police Federation website.
Emergency Services News article 'Andrew’s Law UK Vs Harper’s Law: What Is The Aim Of Each Campaign?'
Petition on www.change.org: 'Anyone guilty of killing an emergency services worker to be jailed for life'.
