Andrew Harper, a PC from the Thames Valley Police was only 28 years of age and was married less than one month before he was shot in action in August 2019.
While attempting to arrest burglary suspects, he was caught with a string attached to his car.
They dragged PC Harper for over a mile at speeds exceeding 40 mph.
His wife Lissie and his family were left devastated.
Andrew Harper, right) was just 28-years old. He had only been married for a little over a month when his duty as a Thames Valley Police Officer was terminated in August 2019.
The killing resulted in three teenager males being convicted of manslaughter. Henry Long was given a 16-year sentence for taking PC Harper’s life. Albert Bowers, Jessie Cole were both handed 13 year sentences.
Lissie Harper felt a deep sense of injustice after the lengthy sentences handed to her husband’s murderers. After being convinced their sentence was too harsh for the crime she spent 16 months campaigning for law reforms. Andrew and her extended family were the ones she wanted to see go.
However, as difficult as PC Harper’s case may be, there are larger principles at work. All of us owe an obligation of gratitude to emergency workers, especially in light of the two-year pandemic.
Raab explained that while the case of PC Harper is heartbreaking, it is only one principle. Our emergency responders are all due a debt to us, especially in the wake of the recent pandemic. Lissie Harper is PC Harper’s wife
They continue to put their lives on the line for us, despite the dangers. Last year was a record-breaking year for the number of assaults on emergency service workers, paramedics, firefighters, police, etc. They should know that we are there for them. As a junior justice minister, I helped to double the penalty for assaulting emergency workers. It was six months instead of one year. Now we’re passing a new law through parliament to double this again – to two years.
However, we must continue to improve.
So I am introducing ‘Harper’s Law’ – which will require mandatory life sentences for anyone who unlawfully kills an emergency worker in the course of their duties, unless there are truly exceptional circumstances.
‘I am introducing ‘Harper’s Law’ – which will require mandatory life sentences for anyone who unlawfully kills an emergency worker in the course of their duties, unless there are truly exceptional circumstances’
This law would have been available when PC Harper passed away. His killers would have faced life imprisonment.
It is a tribute to Lissie that I have voted to alter the law to ensure the families of victims who were killed doing their job get justice.
This government is increasing police recruitment, increasing time spent behind bars by the most serious offenders and building prisons that will take a more robust approach to criminality.
We stand up for the victims and police, as well as all frontline emergency personnel.
So, we can make our country stronger and more stable.