PC Harper's widow condemns killers' early release as «utter betrayal»

The widow of PC Andrew Harper has condemned the early release of the two men convicted over his death as an «utter betrayal», saying she is «beyond appalled» that they are now expected to walk free from prison. Lissie Harper said the decision is a betrayal and voiced her disgust at the prospect of her husband's killers being freed.

PC Harper sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire. The two men convicted over his death were sent to prison, but the government's early prison release scheme means they remain eligible to leave custody before completing their sentences. Mrs Harper has now spoken out in the strongest terms, describing the plan to free them as deeply unjust.

The case has put the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, under renewed pressure. Mr Burnham has moved to block the early release of rapists, but he has not ensured that the men convicted in the Harper case are excluded from the scheme. He has said he wanted to go even further with the prison release programme but has delayed the move, meaning the two men are still covered by the existing arrangement.

Mrs Harper had already hit out at Mr Burnham for failing to guarantee that the two men are not released early. In her latest comments she went further, describing their planned release as an «utter betrayal» and repeating that she was beyond appalled. She has accused the Prime Minister of failing to keep the pair behind bars despite having said he wanted tougher action on prison releases.

The two men could be released within months, according to reports, a prospect that has heightened the sense of injustice around the case. Mrs Harper has highlighted the contrast between the treatment of rapists, who are to be blocked from early release, and the treatment of her husband's killers, who remain eligible to be freed.

The Prime Minister has said he wanted to go further with the reform but has delayed the move, leaving the Harper case governed by the old rules. That delay lies at the centre of Mrs Harper's anger. She has made clear that she regards the decision as a betrayal and expects the government to explain why the two men should be treated differently.

For now, no change of course has been announced, and the two men are still expected to be freed. The decision has placed Mr Burnham under pressure from the widow of a police officer who died in the line of duty, and it has reopened questions about how the early release scheme is applied.