Thames Valley chief says he may join Police Federation in court if Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers are freed from prison

The chief constable of Thames Valley police has said he will consider joining legal action against the government if it fails to block the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers.

The Police Federation is contemplating going to court in its attempts to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers in prison.

In August 2019, Harper, 28, died when he was dragged down a country road in Berkshire by a car as Cole, Bowers and their accomplice Henry Long fled the scene of a quad bike theft.

All three were convicted of manslaughter in 2020. Cole and Bowers were sentenced to 13 years in prison and could be released early as part of the government’s drive to free up prison places.