PC dragged to his death by Travellers

Leading Police Officers and MP's have spoken out following a jury's decision to clear three teenagers of killing a police constable. PC Andrew Harper, 28, caught a gang in the act of stealing a quad bike. He became entangled in the tow rope attached to the groups car and was dragged to his death down a mile of country lanes. The killers were traced to the Four Houses Corner Travellers' site in Berkshire.

 

Albert Bowers, Jessie Cole, and Henry Long, smiled and hugged each other as they were cleared at the Old Bailey of murdering PC Harper by dragging him behind their car. They were convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter. Although still facing life the teenagers are likely to serve far less prison time than if they had been convicted of murder.

 

The decision sparked fury from policing chiefs and MPs. The chairman of the Police Federation, John Apter, who represents more than 120,000 officers in England and Wales said, "What we see far too often is offenders who assault police officers or any emergency worker who are then let off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist," he said.

 

Comment was made, "They're literally putting two fingers up to the criminal justice system. These are violent individuals".

 

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, called for tougher sentences for those who attack emergency workers in the wake of PC Harper's killing but Mr Apter said that any increase increase would be "worthless" unless it was accompanied by a "complete review and overhaul of the sentencing guidelines. At the moment it's almost the exception that people go to prison," he said. 

 

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, added: "It's completely wrong and shouldn't be allowed. Cops need to be protected."

 

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme, Andrew Ledbury, a former employer of PC Andrew Harper before he joined the police and a friend of the family said, "They knew exactly what they were doing."

 

When asked whether he wanted to see a retrial he said, "Certainly I think this was murder and this will not in any way take away the pain of what has happened – it is about justice for those who committed the crime." 

 

Mike Penning MP, a former policing minister, said he was referring the trial to the Attorney General over fears of jury tampering. During the trial one female juror in the case was dismissed after waving at the killers and saying "bye, boys" as she left the courtroom, and an unidentified person in the public gallery was seen pointing at jurors.

 

Mr Penning said, "Something seriously wrong has gone on here. I believe a verdict like this sends out the wrong message, and may put police officers at risk in the future." 

 

The Johnson Partnership

Derby Crime Solicitors