Page 29 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2020_Neat

Widow’s mission

Federation support

for Harper’s Law

campaign

C Andrew Harper’s widow, Lissie, has and other emergency workers but so many
launched a campaign for ‘Harper’s of the general public too who I know fully
PLaw’ to ensure those convicted of support my feelings over the verdict and
killing police officers and other emergency sentences which Andrew’s killers have
service workers face life in prison. received.
Lissie, working with the Police “The people responsible for wreaking
Federation of England and Wales, has called utter despair and grief in all of our lives will
for a change to the law in meetings with spend an inadequate amount of time
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home behind bars. These men who showed no
Secretary Priti Patel and is urging the public remorse, no guilt or sorrow for taking such
and politicians to get behind her campaign. an innocent and heroic life away will find
Lissie said: “I pledge to my late husband themselves able to live out the rest of their
to never stop until I have made the lives free and able to commit more crimes
difference that this country clearly needs. I and continue to put people in danger when
vow to stand strong and firm with so many they are released in a very small number of
other honourable people in our country to years.”
make the changes that we clearly know to She added: “I wish to ensure that
be justified. anyone who finds themselves in my Lissie Harper.
“I hope that by creating a new law - that position, any widows of the future, will not
sees any person who commits a crime that have to experience the same miscarriages Andrew was brutally killed, leaving his wife,
results in the death of an emergency worker of justice. loved ones, colleagues and the nation
being jailed for life - that those who have to “Let us finally put in place laws in which devastated.
go through what I have been through in the we can actually be proud of, let us do “The killing of a police officer should see
future get the justice that they rightly something about the injustices of our those responsible face the rest of their lives
deserve.” systems that cause so much heartache and in prison. This campaign would be Andrew’s
Newly-married Thames Valley Police utter outrage from us all.” legacy and we will continue to support
officer Andrew was killed on 15 August last John Apter, national chair of the Police Lissie in her efforts to seek justice and
year by Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Federation, has given his backing to Lissie’s change the law for the greater good.”
Jessie Cole. The trio were convicted of campaign. You can sign Lissie’s petition and
manslaughter in July but cleared of murder. He said: “We fully support Lissie and her support her campaign at change.org – just
Long has been jailed for 16 years and campaign to seek a change in the law. type in Lissie Harper in the search.
Bowers and Cole for 13 years. The Attorney
General is currently reviewing their I pledge to my late husband to never stop until
sentences to see if they were too lenient. “
Lissie said: “As a widow of a police I have made the difference that this country
officer - a title which I would give
everything to not have - I have witnessed
first-hand the lenient and insufficient way clearly needs. I vow to stand strong and firm
in which the justice system deals with
criminals who take the lives of our with so many other honourable people in our
emergency workers.
“I have grown close to our under- country to make the changes that we clearly
appreciated protectors ever more since the
death of Andrew. I have been enveloped in
love and support from not only the police know to be justified. “

www.polfed.org/westmids federation October/November 2020 29