Lissie Harper has condemned the Government after learning that two of the men responsible for the death of her husband, PC Andrew Harper, remain eligible for early release despite ministers announcing fresh exemptions to a controversial prison release scheme.

The widow of the Thames Valley Police officer said she was left “beyond appalled” after discovering that Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could still be freed as early as October, even though the Government has decided to exclude rapists, serious child sex offenders and certain grooming offenders from the revised sentencing reforms.

Harper, who has spent years campaigning for tougher sentences for those who kill emergency workers, accused ministers of betraying victims’ families and undermining the justice system.

Speaking after details of the revised policy emerged, she said she was “disgusted” that her husband’s killers were still set to benefit from the changes.

“I am beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear that Andrew’s killers are soon to be free to roam the streets,” she said.

“What abhorrent message does this send? How dare Ministers say the killing of a police officer is not enough of a ‘sickening crime’ that deserves the stiffest of punishments.”

She continued: “The level of disrespect the Government are showing to Andrew and other victims, and to their loved ones such as me, is beyond contempt.”

Harper’s criticism comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced changes to the Government’s early release proposals following widespread concern from victims’ groups, campaigners and members of the public.

Under the revised plans, offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual abuse and other grooming offences will no longer qualify for earlier release.

However, those changes do not apply to Cole and Bowers.

Both men were convicted of manslaughter following the death of PC Harper and remain eligible for release under the scheme, despite repeated calls for emergency worker killers to be excluded.

Their co-defendant, Henry Long, who drove the vehicle involved in the fatal incident, is serving a longer sentence and is not expected to qualify for the early release measures.

The distinction has infuriated Harper, who said the Government has abandoned promises made when Harper’s Law was introduced.

“The killers of Andrew have shown no remorse,” she said.

“They robbed us of our future. They are vile criminals, and they should remain in jail.”

“To release them early from their already pitiful sentences is an affront to justice. The Government and the justice system have not just let me down, they have added insult to injury. They are meant to be on our side.”

She described the decision as “an absolute betrayal” and insisted it was something she would never forgive.

“This is an utter betrayal, and it’s one I will not be able to forgive or forget.”

PC Andrew Harper was just 28 years old when he was killed in August 2019 while responding to reports of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.

During the incident, Harper became caught on a tow rope attached to a getaway vehicle carrying three teenagers.

He was dragged for more than a mile along rural roads, suffering catastrophic injuries.

The case shocked Britain and prompted widespread debate over sentencing for those responsible for killing emergency service workers.

Henry Long, who was behind the wheel, received a 16-year prison sentence after admitting manslaughter.

Passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were each jailed for 13 years after being convicted of the same offence.

None of the three defendants was convicted of murder.

Following the case, Harper launched a determined campaign calling for mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted of killing an emergency worker while committing a crime.

Her efforts ultimately led to Harper’s Law, which introduced tougher sentencing provisions intended to ensure judges impose stronger punishments in such cases.

She has repeatedly argued that the sentences handed to her husband’s killers failed to reflect the severity of the crime and has continued campaigning for reforms ever since.

When news first emerged in July that Cole and Bowers might qualify for early release under the Government’s prison measures, Harper warned that it undermined everything her campaign had achieved.

She pointed out that Harper’s Law received support across the political spectrum.

“When I fought for Harper’s Law, I was supported not only by the Conservative government of the day but by the Labour Party too,” she said.

“They pledged to support our cause and agreed that those who kill emergency workers should face tougher sentences because some crimes are so grave they demand meaningful punishment.”

“That cross-party support helped make Harper’s Law a reality. Today, it feels forgotten.”

She added that the issue transcended party politics.

“For victims’ families, this is not about politics. It is about whether a sentence means what a judge says it means.”

“It is about whether justice is something we truly believe in, or something that can be negotiated away when it becomes inconvenient.”

The Government has defended its overall approach, arguing that difficult decisions are necessary because Britain’s prisons are operating dangerously close to full capacity.

The adult male prison estate is currently reported to be around 98 percent full, with ministers warning that without intervention the system risks running out of available prison places entirely.

Officials have blamed years of underinvestment for the overcrowding crisis and say reforms are needed to prevent the prison system from reaching breaking point.

The Sentencing Act, which is designed to replace repeated emergency prisoner release schemes, had originally been scheduled to begin in September.

Its introduction has now been postponed until October.

Ministers say the delay will provide probation officers with more time to prepare supervision plans while allowing victims greater involvement in determining licence conditions placed on offenders after release.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged public concern following criticism from Harper and other victims’ families.

“I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that’s been caused,” he said.

“I’ve heard that loud and clear.”

He explained that the Government had decided to exempt offenders convicted of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming crimes after reviewing the policy.

“I want to be honest, I wanted to go even further as I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened,” Burnham said.

“But it’s not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk.”

Alongside the exemptions, ministers announced additional measures designed to strengthen community supervision.

The package includes an extra £10 million in funding for victim support services, expanded electronic tagging, longer supervision periods after release and wider use of exclusion zones restricting where offenders can travel.

Probation officers will also receive greater authority to prohibit offenders from driving, entering pubs or attending football matches where appropriate.

The Government additionally confirmed plans to expand chemical castration trials into more regions for certain sexual offenders.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris defended the revised proposals, describing them as a difficult but necessary response to the prison capacity crisis.

“The Prime Minister and I have reviewed these reforms, listened to the concerns and gone further to protect victims,” he said.

“These are decisions no Minister would ever want to take, but it is right these sickening crimes are excluded from these reforms.”

He added that victims would receive improved support while offenders released from prison would face tougher supervision requirements.

Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman welcomed the delay to implementation, saying it offered an opportunity to improve communication with victims who have often been left uncertain about how the changes could affect them.

She stressed that exclusions alone would not guarantee public safety and urged ministers to ensure robust risk assessments, meaningful licence conditions and proper supervision were in place before offenders are released.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs also raised concerns, warning that domestic abuse perpetrators remain eligible under the proposals.

She argued that failing to exclude such offenders could leave victims at continued risk and called for comprehensive risk assessments before any releases take place.

For Harper, however, the central issue remains unchanged.

Despite years of campaigning and the introduction of Harper’s Law, she believes the possibility of Cole and Bowers walking free months earlier than expected sends the wrong message to victims’ families and to those serving on the front line of Britain’s emergency services.

With the October implementation date approaching, her criticism has reignited debate over whether overcrowded prisons should ever take precedence over the sentences handed down by the courts, particularly in cases involving the deaths of police officers killed in the line of duty.