Plymouth Live
·26 Aug 2026
Victory for PC Andrew Harper’s family as killers blocked from early release
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were convicted over the 2019 death of PC Andrew Harper while fleeing a quad-bike theft, are reportedly set to be excluded from the government’s early-release scheme. Under current rules, the pair could have been released next year after serving 40% of their 13-year sentences. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to review the scheme, with secondary legislation reportedly planned to prevent those convicted of certain forms of unlawful-act manslaughter from qualifying. The review follows campaigning by Harper’s family and wider criticism from the police community, while Harper’s Law already requires mandatory life sentences for people convicted of killing emergency workers while committing a crime.