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PC Harper's mum details 'disappointing' way she found out about early release

In 2019, PC Andrew Harper was tragically killed when he was dragged by a car down a country road by three teenagers.

[Debbie Adlam ]

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PC Harper's mum Debbie Adlam spoke about her thoughts on the early prison release scheme(Image: ITV)

PC Andrew Harper's mum has shared her thoughts on the early prisoner release scheme.

Almost seven years ago, police officer Andrew Harper was killed after responding to a reported burglary.

Tragically, his ankles got caught in a strap which was attached to a car, and he was dragged for more than a mile along country lanes.

Despite attempts to save him, the 28-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene as the three teenagers fled. Since then, driver Henry Long was jailed for 16 years with passengers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter.

However, Jessie and Albery could apply for early release after serving half of their sentences with the government's new scheme. Henry will not be eligible.

On Thursday's instalment of Good Morning Britain (August 6), PC Harper's mum Debbie Adlam spoke to Adil Ray and Kate Garraway on the proposed early release of the two of the men involved in her son's death.

[PC Harper's mum Debbie Adlam]

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PC Harper's mum Debbie Adlam spoke about her thoughts on the early prison release scheme(Image: ITV)

When asked how she is, knowing they could be free soon, Debbie replied: "I've gone through every emotion I think. Feeling crushed, finding out they are going to be even on the list for potentially being eligible was bad enough.

"Then to find out this is going to happen. The injustice that we feel for Andrew, when you're sentenced, you should serve that sentence, at least the proportion that you're supposed to be kept inside.

"I'm feeling better now in that I don't feel quite so alone. I know that there are a lot of voices out there, we have a petition now and within two days, it has nearly 440,000."

[A split screen of Kate Garraway speaking to a woman in a blue top]

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Debbie revealed she got a phone call to let her know about their potential release of the two men(Image: ITV)

When asked how she came to know of their potential early release, Debbie shared that she got a phone call.

She told the ITV stars: "I had my annual update, which had a generic letter to say that there's a possibility and we'll tell you at the end of August.

"I've since found out that the prisoner involved had already been told various things. Apparently, they have to be told before us either way. That was very disappointing to hear that they've been told, and we hadn't.

[A woman in a blue top on a split sceen with a man in a suit]

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PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 after a horrific incident(Image: ITV)

"Since then, things have moved on very quickly, and Alex Norris has phoned me to let me know because I think he knew there was going to be a backlash on this, so he made the call to myself and Andrew's wife.

"It leads us to where we are now, it still will never ever be something that should happen. Our society needs much more support, and quite honestly, I like to be proud of our country, but I'm not feeling very proud at the moment. But, I'm so proud of the people who are supporting us."

It comes after the early prisoner release scheme, which has been introduced to reduce prison overcrowding, caused widespread outrage.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly "angry" about the situation and wanted to stop more prisoners being released early.

He and Justice Secretary Alex Norris say they are being forced to carry out the scheme to have a "functioning prison system", as the alternative would mean having no space to lock up new prisoners.

He apologised to Ms Adlam and PC Harpers wife Lissie, telling BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday: I've said sorry to her and to her mother... We're making significant changes to ensure that sort of long-term future of having proper prison capacity in this country. But I appreciate, as they say, that they shouldnt be the ones who, as a result, are impacted by that and I am sorry that is the case.

Good Morning Britain is available to watch on ITV weekdays from 6am.

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