I am absolutely outraged that the Justice Secretary and the Prime Minister have decided that killing a police officer in the execution of their duty is somehow less serious than other offences deemed too dangerous for early release.

Let me be clear, on behalf of Thames Valley Police Officers, I challenge the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary to stand before PC Andrew Harper's widow, Lissie, his parents, his brother, his loved ones, or indeed any police officer in this country, and explain why those responsible for killing a police officer should still be eligible for early release. 

Explain it to the officers who attended the scene on 15 August 2019 and witnessed the horrific consequences of that crime. The friends and colleagues that had to hear about it on the radio. Tell them that the life of a police officer does not warrant the same protection under this legislation.

This decision pours salt into wounds that have never healed. It is an insult to Andrew's family, his friends, his colleagues and the entire policing family. 

Time and again they have been forced to relive their grief while watching a justice system that they trusted fail to recognise the unique sacrifice made by those who serve and protect the public.

Police Officers put themselves in harm's way every day. They run towards danger when everyone else is running away. They do so knowing that they may never come home to their families. 

For the Government to exclude the killers of police officers from these protections sends a deeply troubling message about the value placed on those who make that sacrifice.

Andrew Harper's family deserved better. Every police officer in this country deserves better.

I will not stand by while the voices of Andrew's family, his colleagues and police officers across this country continue to be ignored. 

Somebody, somewhere, must finally listen.

Please sign our petition. 

Aileen O'Connor, Chair, Thames Valley Police Federation