PC Harper, from Wallingford, who servied in Abingdon, was fatally injured when he got caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and was dragged down a country road as the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in 2019.

Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could be freed halfway through their 13-year sentences under Government plans for early releases designed to tackle overcrowding in jails, which has prompted widespread condemnation of the scheme.

Police officers and Debbie Adlam, the mother of PC Andrew Harper, paying their respects yesterday at the site near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, where the officer was killed (Image: Martis Media/PA Wire)

READ MORE: M40 closed with two hour delays due to ‘serious’ crash

The Government has resisted pressure to exempt the two men from the early release scheme, part of the Sentencing Act passed earlier this year which cut the minimum amount of time many offenders would have to spend in prison.

PC Harper’s mother Debbie Adlam, who earlier this week said the family was “bitterly disappointed” by the Government’s decision, visited the scene of her son’s death on Thursday.

Aileen O’Connor, chairwoman of Thames Valley Police Federation, who started the petition this week, said: “The public have spoken loudly and clearly that they are behind our campaign, which is absolutely amazing – and I just want to thank each and every one of the people who have taken the time to sign our petition.

PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in 2019 at the age of 28 (Image: NQ)

“We will continue to drive this. We will not stop. Please keep signing. Please keep sharing.

“My ask is that the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and everybody else in Government gets on the right side of this and does the right thing and makes the changes that keep the two killers behind bars.”

On Friday afternoon the petition had more than 675,000 signatures.

Jessie Cole (Image: Thames Valley Police / NQ)

READ MORE: Mum jailed after teen girl beat up man, 50, hours before his death

Detective Superintendent Stuart Blaik, who led the investigation into 28-year-old PC Harper’s death, told the BBC he was “deeply concerned and appalled” by the prospect of early release for Cole and Bowers, and that they should “not be afforded the opportunity”.

He said: “Neither of them showed any remorse during their time in police custody or during their subsequent trial.

“I hope the Government takes account of the strength of public feeling on this issue, which has been both clear and widespread.”

Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said he was receiving legal advice on whether the force could join a legal challenge mooted by Ms O’Connor to prevent Cole and Bowers being freed.

Albert Bowers (Image: Thames Valley Police / NQ)

The officer’s widow Lissie Harper said the Government “has punched us in the gut… they should be ashamed of themselves”.

“Hopefully we can make the current Government come to their senses and realise we cannot put people like this back on our streets,” she said.

“Justice should mean justice and serving the sentence given.”

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Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said it was “not OK” that the killers of PC Harper were eligible for early release.

He told the BBC the Government should “never have been put in a position” where prisons were so full that offenders were going to be let out at an earlier stage of their sentence.

“We take this extremely seriously, not least in the light of the concerns raised by the family of PC Harper,” Mr Streeting said during a visit in Scotland on Friday.

Young Sherlock, a British mystery television series, will see Hero Fiennes Tiffin return as the titular character.

A Georgian Square in Bristol is being transformed back to the Victorian era ‘Oxford’ ahead of the filming of the second series.

Portland Square in Bristol has been transformed for the filming for season 2 of Amazon’s Young Sherlock. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

The series, first aired in March this year, is inspired by Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes book series.

It was created by Matthew Parkhill and developed by Peter Harness and Guy Ritchie, who also directed two episodes.

Other main cast members returning include Dónal Finn (James Moriarty), Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, and Holly Cattle, who play Sherlock’s family members.

The series synopsis reveals: “As a 19-year-old at Oxford University, Sherlock Holmes is not yet the master detective he grows up to be.

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Max Irons (left) who plays Mycroft Holmes on set in Bristol. Portland Square in Bristol has been transformed for the filming for season 2 of Amazon’s Young Sherlock. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

“He is raw and unfiltered, and he lacks discipline.

“A murder at Oxford puts Holmes’s freedom at risk, and he sets out to solve his first murder mystery that leads him to a global-level conspiracy.”

Young Sherlock received praise upon its release, and its 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes reflects that.

Portland Square in Bristol has been transformed for the filming for season 2 of Amazon’s Young Sherlock. (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

The critics’ consensus on the reviewing platform reads: “Young Sherlock doesn’t aim to recreate Conan Doyle’s work; rather, it takes pride in its liberal adaptation, delivering Guy Ritchie’s signature blend of precise entertainment, sly style, and ingratiating characters.”

One critic said: “Prime Video’s Young Sherlock is sensational.

“The series, which was adapted by Matthew Parkhill, remixes the beloved figure to deliver all the traits fans know and love — with more than one twist.”

Young Sherlock is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.

Traffic was halted on the major trunk motorway at about midday on Friday, August 7, because of a serious collision.

Cars were stopped and diverted before junction 10 with Ardley heading northbound on the motorway, before junction 11 with Banbury, and drivers travelling southbound were also stopped to allow an air ambulance to land.

An air ambulance attended the scene of the crash (stock image) (Image: Thames Valley Air Ambulance)

READ MORE: M40 closed with two hour delays due to ‘serious’ crash

Cars experienced delays in excess of two hours on the northbound approach, with six miles of congestion reported, as well as significant delays on the A34 towards the Wendlebury Interchange and junction with the M40.

Thames Valley Police has been approached for more information on what happened but has not provided a response.

The motorway had reopened by about 3pm but residual delays remained for much of the afternoon.

Traffic being diverted off the M40 as the motorway was closed due to the crash (Image: National Highways)

Thames Valley Police’s rural crime taskforce, which frequently patrols the countryside across the north of Oxfordshire, have now revealed its officers were the first on the scene.

A spokesperson said they provided ‘an immediate response and support to those invovled’ and it is understood other emergency responders subsequently attended the scene.

READ MORE: Mum jailed after teen girl beat up man, 50, hours before his death

The officers also dealt with a stolen car in Kidlington and seized a van with no insurance whose driver had no licence.

In Chieveley, the taskforce arrested a driver on suspicion of possession of class A and class B drugs and driving whilst unfit through drugs, without a licence and without insurance.

It was described as a ‘proactive day highlighting the wide range of incidents Rural Crime Taskforce officers respond to across the force area’ by the team.