Tributes paid to PC Harper seven years after his death

Today, August 15, marks the seven year anniversary of the tragic death of PC Andrew Harper, an Abingdon-based police officer from Wallingford, who was killed in the line of duty in 2019.

PC Harper, who was 28 years old at the time, died from ‘catastrophic injuries’ after being dragged behind a car on the A4 Bath Road in Berkshire, by three teenagers fleeing the police.

Andrew Harper (Image: Thames Valley Police/PA Wire)

Tributes from the police force he served with and the police federation, his colleagues and friends and from members of the public have been paid on the anniversary of his death.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “On 15 August 2019, PC Andrew Harper attended reports of a burglary and later tragically died as a result of multiple fatal injuries caused when he was dragged along by a vehicle on the A4 Bath Road in Berkshire.

“Rest In Peace PC Harper.”

A spokesperson for the Police Federation of England and Wales said: “Seven years on, we remember PC Andrew Harper and his supreme sacrifice while protecting the public.

“We honour his service, courage and commitment, and keep his loved ones and colleagues in our thoughts, today and always.”

The Thames Valley Police Federation added: “We will never forget him.”

Both the national and local police federations said they chose to acknowledge the seven-year anniversary of his death ‘without fanfare’, out of respect for PC Harper’s family at this difficult time.

It comes amid a significant controversy relating to the Government’s early release scheme, designed to tackle prison overcrowding, which will see some offenders released halfway through their sentences.

Two of the three teenagers convicted of the Oxfordshire police officer’s manslaughter, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were said to be eligible for release halfway through their 13 year sentences.

Cole and Bowers are serving 13-year sentences after their conviction for manslaughter (PA)

Significant backlash followed the Government’s confirmation that they would be considered for the scheme, and a petition was launched by the chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, Aileen O’Connor, with the support of PC Harper’s family, urging the Government to keep the killers behind bars.

The petition reached 1million signatures on Friday, August 14.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is ‘increasingly confident’ the killers won’t be released early (Image: Jack Taylor/PA Wire)

Responding to the uproar, Mr Burnham said he was ‘looking at everything’ to find a solution to the issue and ‘wouldn’t forgive’ himself if he did not try to lessen the ‘anguish’ of the officer’s family.

In an interview with LBC, he said: “I am turning over every stone. I am looking at everything. I am pushing the system to go further.”

Mr Burnham has ordered Justice Secretary Alex Norris to draw up plans to free up prison space for serious offenders, and said he is “increasingly confident” PC Harper’s killers will not be released early from their sentences as a result.