PC Andrew Harper: Police officer's father backs call for life sentences for killers of emergency service workers
"These people are there to protect us and we must do all we can to support, appreciate and respect them," says Phil Harper.
Saturday 22 August 2020 00:09, UK
PC Andrew Harper's father is backing calls for a new law to ensure life sentences are given to the killers of emergency service workers.
Phil Harper, in his first comments since three teenagers were jailed over his police officer son's death, gave his support to the Harper's Law campaign.
"Our family has always held the view that in our society there are people that are the backbone of this country," he said.
"People who look after us and pick us up when we fall, people that give us the opportunity to live freely and be able to express ourselves and our views.
"These people are there to protect us and we must do all we can to support, appreciate and respect them - from doctors, nurses, paramedics to firefighters, prison officers and of course police officers, many of whom have been attacked, injured or killed in the past."
Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Harper, launched the Harper's Law campaign this month and more than 370,000 people have already signed an online petition in support.
The campaign calls for "criminals convicted of killing a police officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor, prison officer or paramedic to be jailed for life. No ifs. No buts".
Phil paid tribute to the work of Lissie, who hopes to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel and is campaigning in conjunction with the Police Federation of England and Wales.
"When Lissie announced the campaign for Harper's Law, we decided that it could be achievable with the right support," he said.
"We are so proud of Lissie for having the courage to take on this incredible task, and fully back her all the way."
Phil is asking the public to sign and share the Change.org petition, use the hashtag #HarpersLaw and lobby their local MPs.
"We hope the public will back and support Lissie's campaign in memory of Andrew," he said.
"We need Harper's Law."
Lissie said: "Andrew loved his family and so for Harper's Law to have the backing of Phil and the family is incredibly important to me."
"It's so clear to see that the people of our country are unhappy with the way we deal with criminals," she added.
"I've been swamped with messages and words of agreement over the despicable outcome following the trial."
PC Harper 28, died in August last year - just one month after his wedding - when three teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.
The Thames Valley Police traffic officer got his ankles caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and was subsequently dragged, to his death, for a mile along dark country lanes.
Henry Long, 19, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, were jailed last month for manslaughter after being acquitted of murder.
Long, the driver of the car, was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Bowers and Cole were given jail sentences of 13 years.
Phil thanked his wife Karen, Andrew's stepmother, for her support and also described how proud he was of Andrew's brother and sister, Sean and Aimee, for being "so dignified" over the past year.
"Both Sean and Aimee have lost more than just a brother - he was a best friend as well, who would always take the time to give the best advice he could," he said.
"My heart was so broken for them when they heard the terrible news."
Phil's support for the Harper's Law campaign comes a day after it was revealed Attorney General Suella Braverman had referred the sentences of PC Harper's killers to the Court of Appeal for being "unduly lenient".
Bowers and Cole intend to challenge their convictions and their prison sentences.