Dozens of police chiefs urge PM Andy Burnham to prevent PC Andrew Harper killers' early prison release

Dozens of police chiefs urge PM Andy Burnham to prevent PC Andrew Harper killers' early prison release Andy Burnham is 'increasingly confident' the killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early, but an open letter has demanded drastic changes and stronger protections An open letter signed by 50 police and law enforcement leaders from across Britain has demanded PC Andrew Harper's killers remain locked up. In an unpresented move, dozens of high-ranking officers have written to the Prime Minister with three key demands, as Andy Burnham comes under increasing pressure from victims' families not to allow Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - sentenced to 13 years for the cop's manslaughter in 2020 - to be freed in January. The new PM has ordered an urgent review into the controversial plan. A change was expected to sentencing rules from October 1, meaning most adults serving a standard prison sentence would be released earlier than the date originally set. Prisoners convicted of less serious offences were also expected to leave jail after a third of their sentence. Mr Burnham said he is “increasingly confident” the killers of PC Harper will not be released early, but that hasn't stopped the open letter being published. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson and Commissioner Pete O’Doherty were just two of the officials to put their name to it. They asked the Government to consider three measures, and wanted every lawful option examined to determine whether the earlier release of those responsible for the PC's death could be prevented. They also wanted additional public protection safeguarding to be established in cases involving the most serious offenders whenever future changes to sentencing on release arrangements are considered. Thirdly, they demanded victims and bereaved families must be "properly considered" whenever significant changes are made to sentencing or release arrangements. Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been tasked by Mr Burnham with finding ways to keep the serious offenders in prison. The letter read: "Dear Prime Minister, We welcome your intervention regarding the potential earlier release of those responsible for the death of PC Andrew Harper, and your instruction to the Justice Secretary to examine what can lawfully be done. "When the state asks people to run towards danger on behalf of the public, they should be able to trust that the justice system will stand behind them when the worst happens. PC Andrew Harper's case also raises a wider question. "When someone is sentenced for an exceptionally serious offence, how much confidence can victims, bereaved families and the public place in that sentence if subsequent changes to release arrangements result in an offender being released significantly earlier than originally anticipated? This question extends far beyond policing. "Families across the country are now facing the distress of learning that offenders may be released earlier than they understood when sentence was passed. We do not suggest that the grief of a police family is greater than that of any other bereaved family, nor that the life of an emergency worker has greater value. "Our concern is for all victims and families affected by serious offending sentencing changes. PC Andrew Harper lost his life while protecting the public and serving his community. Following his death, Lissie Harper campaigned for a change in the law, leading Parliament to establish Harper's Law, recognising the exceptional risks emergency workers take while protecting others. "Police officers and staff see first-hand the impact serious crime has on victims and their families. They support people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives and ask them to place their trust in the justice system. That trust is vital and should not be weakened. "We are also collectively concerned that an approach to early release which does not sufficiently distinguish the most serious offending risks undermining public safety, victim confidence and wider confidence in the criminal justice system." All those who have signed the letter - Chief Constable Sarah Crew - Avon and Somerset Police - Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst - Bedfordshire Police - Chief Constable Simon Megicks - Cambridgeshire Constabulary - Chief Constable Mark Roberts - Cheshire Constabulary - Commissioner Pete O’Doherty - City of London Police - Chief Constable Victoria Fuller - Cleveland Police - Chief Constable Darren Martland - Cumbria Constabulary - Acting Chief Constable Simon Blatchly - Derbyshire Constabulary - Chief Constable James Vaughan - Devon & Cornwall Police - Chief Constable Rachel Farrell - Dorset Police - Chief Constable Rachel Bacon - Durham Constabulary - Chief Constable Ifan Charles - Dyfed-Powys Police - Chief Constable Rachel Nolan - Essex Police - Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth - Gloucestershire Constabulary - Chief Constable Stephen Watson - Greater Manchester Police - Chief Constable Mark Hobrough - Gwent Police - Chief Constable Alexis Boon - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary - Chief Constable Andy Prophet - Hertfordshire Constabulary - Chief Constable Chris Todd - Humberside Police - Chief Constable Tim Smith - Kent Police - Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett - Lancashire Constabulary - Chief Constable David Sandall - Leicestershire Police - Chief Constable Paul Gibson - Lincolnshire Police - Chief Constable Rob Carden - Merseyside Police - Commissioner Mark Rowley - Metropolitan Police Service - Chief Constable Paul Sanford - Norfolk Constabulary - Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman - North Wales Police - Chief Constable Tim Forber - North Yorkshire Police - Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet - Northamptonshire Police - Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine - Northumbria Police - Temporary Chief Constable Steven Cooper - Nottinghamshire Police - Chief Constable Jo Farrell - Police Scotland - Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan - South Wales Police - Chief Constable Lauren Poultney - South Yorkshire Police - Acting Chief Constable Rebecca Riggs - Staffordshire Police - Chief Constable Rachel Kearton - Suffolk Constabulary - Chief Constable Tim De Meyer - Surrey Police - Chief Constable Jo Shiner - Sussex Police - Chief Constable Jason Hogg - Thames Valley Police - Acting Chief Constable David Gardner - Warwickshire Police - Chief Constable Richard Cooper - West Mercia Police - Acting Chief Constable Scott Green - West Midlands Police - Chief Constable John Robins - West Yorkshire Police - Chief Constable Catherine Roper - Wiltshire Police - Chief Constable Jon Boutcher - Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) - Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi - British Transport Police - Chief Constable Simon Chesterman - Civil Nuclear Constabulary - Acting Chief Constable Keir Pritchard - Ministry of Defence Police - Director General Graeme Biggar - National Crime Agency - Chief Officer Robin Smith - State of Jersey Police