Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg is considering joining legal action to prevent the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers. Hogg stated he is in discussions with the Police Federation of England and Wales regarding the matter, noting the overwhelming public sentiment against the potential release.

PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 while on duty when he suffered fatal injuries being dragged by a car as three teenagers fled a quad bike theft in Berkshire. The incident led to a significant public outcry and subsequent legislative changes aimed at protecting emergency service workers.

Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, passengers in the car, were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. They are eligible to apply for early release after serving half of their sentences. The driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and is not eligible for early release.

Hogg expressed his view that the government should reconsider its policy, stating that individuals convicted of taking a life should not be released early, despite acknowledging the pressures on the prison system. He indicated that legal advice would be sought on the possibility of joining a legal challenge.

Following PC Harper's death, his wife Lissie campaigned for stronger protections for emergency service workers, which led to Parliament passing Harper's Law. This law mandates life sentences for those convicted of killing emergency service workers and doubles the maximum penalty for assaulting them. However, these provisions, introduced in 2022, were not applied retrospectively to the sentencing of Harper's killers.

Aileen O'Connor, branch chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, confirmed that the organization is also exploring legal avenues. She stated that if a legal challenge is deemed feasible, the Federation would fully support it, leaving the specifics of such a challenge to legal experts.

The current early release scheme in England and Wales excludes prisoners convicted of murder, rape, grooming, and serious child sex offenses. Manslaughter convictions, such as those of Cole and Bowers, do not automatically preclude early release under the existing framework, a point Hogg described as "perverse."

Sentencing Minister Jake Richards commented that it would be inappropriate to single out specific cases, suggesting a broader policy approach is being taken by the government in response to prison system pressures.