英国泰晤士河谷警察局局长杰森·霍格表示，如果政府无法阻止杀害警察安德鲁·哈珀的两名凶手提前获释，他将考虑加入对政府的法律诉讼[1]。警察联合会正在筹备向法院提起司法审查诉讼，以阻止杰西·科尔和艾伯特·鲍尔斯的早期释放[1]。
哈珀在2019年8月被逃离盗窃现场的车拖拽致死[1]。科尔和鲍尔斯因过失杀人罪被判13年监禁，按照英国监狱的常规制度，他们可能符合服刑满三分之一后获得早期释放的资格[1]。英国政府计划从10月起释放约5000名符合条件的囚犯，以缓解监狱容量危机，但这一决定在哈珀的遗孀和执法部门引发强烈反对[1]。
值得注意的是，2022年英国引入的法律规定，对紧急服务工作人员致命案件的定罪必须处以终身监禁，但该规定不可溯及既往，对科尔和鲍尔斯的案件不适用[1]。国家警察首席理事会估计，管理这批被释放罪犯需耗资约480万英镑[1]。
The head of Thames Valley Police has warned he may join a judicial review lawsuit against the government if it proceeds with the early release of the two men convicted in the death of Constable Andrew Harper [1]. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for manslaughter after Harper was dragged to his death by a car fleeing a burglary scene in August 2019 [1]. Both men may be eligible for early release under government plans to discharge approximately 5,000 inmates who have completed one-third of their sentences, beginning in October [1].
Thames Valley Police Chief Jason Hogg stated he is considering joining the Police Federation's potential judicial review challenge to keep the men incarcerated [1]. A law introduced in 2022 mandates life sentences for convictions involving fatal attacks on emergency service workers, but the provision does not apply retroactively to Harper's case [1]. The National Police Chiefs' Council has estimated that managing released offenders could cost approximately £480 million [1].