Alistair FinchTwo of the men who killed PC Andrew Harper could be released from prison early in 2026, reviving national anger and putting his widow, Lissie Harper, back at the centre of the debate over how the justice system treats bereaved families. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, jailed for manslaughter after the officer was dragged behind a car in Berkshire in August 2019, may qualify for the government's early-release scheme designed to ease prison overcrowding.
For the families of victims, the news raises an urgent and practical question: when an offender's release date suddenly moves forward, what rights do you actually have, and how do you make your voice count? The answer is more concrete than most people realise — but only if you know which mechanisms exist and act on them in time.
What has changed for the Harper case
PC Andrew Harper, 28, had been married to Lissie for just four weeks when he was killed responding to a report of a stolen quad bike near Sulhamstead in August 2019. He was caught in a strap and dragged for more than a mile behind a car. Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were convicted of manslaughter in 2020, with Long sentenced to 16 years and Cole and Bowers to 13 years each.
Lissie Harper's response was to campaign for Harper's Law, which introduced mandatory life sentences for anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker acting in the course of their duty. The law passed in 2022. Crucially, it was not retrospective — so it cannot be applied to the men who killed her husband. Under the government's early-release scheme, which lets some prisoners out after serving a smaller proportion of their sentence, two of those men may now leave custody earlier than the original timetable implied.
That combination — a landmark law that arrived too late for the very case that inspired it, and an early-release policy that shortens time served — is why the story has resurfaced and why families across the country are asking what protections apply to them.
The rights victims often do not know they have
If you are the victim of a violent or sexual offence and the offender was sentenced to 12 months or more, you are entitled to support through the Victim Contact Scheme, run by His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. Enrolment is not automatic in every case, which is exactly where families lose ground: the scheme delivers its protections only once you are signed up and allocated a Victim Liaison Officer.
Through that officer, victims and bereaved relatives can be told when key decisions are being considered, including a possible release. They can submit a Victim Personal Statement setting out the continuing impact of the crime, and they can make representations about the licence conditions attached to any release — for example, exclusion zones that keep an offender away from a particular town, or a ban on contacting the family. Where a case goes before the Parole Board, eligible victims can also apply to observe an oral hearing.
The legal backdrop strengthened in 2024. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 introduced a codified public protection test, which requires the Parole Board to give particular regard to the protection of the victim when deciding whether to direct release. It is a duty families can point to directly in their representations.
Why a solicitor makes a practical difference
Many bereaved families assume these processes run automatically on their behalf. They do not. A solicitor experienced in victims' rights and criminal justice can help in several concrete ways, and the value is in the detail rather than in dramatic courtroom moments.
First, timing. Representations about licence conditions and applications to observe hearings run to strict deadlines. Miss the window and the opportunity is gone, regardless of how strong the case is. A solicitor keeps the calendar and files on time.
Second, precision. Licence conditions are only as protective as their wording. A vague exclusion zone or a loosely drafted no-contact clause can leave real gaps. Legal advice helps translate a family's fears into conditions the Probation Service can actually enforce.
Third, challenge. In some circumstances a release decision can be questioned — for instance through the Victims' Right to Review or, where a Parole Board decision appears legally flawed, a request for reconsideration. Knowing whether a case qualifies, and on what grounds, is squarely legal territory.
What to do now if this affects your family
If you fear an offender in your case could be released earlier than expected, the practical steps are clear. Contact the Victim Contact Scheme and confirm you are enrolled; if you are not, ask to join and request a Victim Liaison Officer. Keep a written record of every date and name you are given. Prepare, or update, your Victim Personal Statement so it reflects the impact today, not only at the time of sentencing. And take early legal advice on licence conditions and any review routes before decisions are finalised, not after.
A solicitor can help you enrol correctly, draft representations that carry weight, and identify whether a decision can be challenged — the difference between reacting to news and shaping the outcome.
The Harper case is a reminder that sentences on paper and time actually served can diverge, and that the system rarely volunteers its protections. Families who understand the Victim Contact Scheme, the public protection test and their review rights are far better placed to be heard. You can check your entitlements through the official guidance on the Parole Board's commitment to victims of crime, and a specialist solicitor can turn those rights into action.
This article is general information about the law in England and Wales as of 2026 and is not legal advice. For guidance on your own circumstances, consult a qualified solicitor.
