What is Harper’s Law?

WIFE of PC Andrew Harper, who died on duty, has campaigned for a new law to protect emergency service workers.

After her husband's death in 2019, Lissie Harper, 30, began her fight to change the law.

What is Harper's Law?

In 2019, Lissie's husband and childhood sweetheart responded to a theft of a quad bike near Reading.

PC Andrew Harper, 28, was dragged for more than a mile behind three travellers’ car after getting entangled in a tow rope.

The three teenagers in the car were given manslaughter sentences and were spared life in jail.

After this verdict Lissie began campaigning for Harper's Law, which now has government support.

Harper's Law would mean those who unlawfully kill emergency workers while committing an offence - including police, fire or emergency medical workers - are jailed for life.

Lissie said: "Society must offer the greatest protection for those dedicated public servants who are killed protecting it.

"That is what Harper’s Law would provide. An appropriate deterrent and suitable punishment.

“The law must be changed. We want to work with the Government, politicians of all parties and the fantastic British public on this.”

Has Harper's Law been passed?

While Harper's Law has not been passed yet, Lissie's campaign has been supported by the Government.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: “We are going to pass into law mandatory life sentences for those who unlawfully kill an emergency worker in the course of their duty.

“I pay tribute to Lissie Harper’s remarkable campaign.”

Harper's Law is not wholly unique as murder of a police officer already carries an automatic life sentence.

If the victim is on duty, the statutory "starting point" is life without parole.

Why is Harper's Law controversial?

The campaign does not distinguish between convictions of murder or manslaughter.

Harper's Law will mean that those guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter will also receive a life sentence, where the victim is an emergency worker.

In cases such as these, the accused may not have the intent to kill and the victim does not need to be aware the accused was committing an offence.

Culpability in cases of manslaughter can be wildly variable.

A single punch may unexpectedly cause death and can be ruled as manslaughter.

A deliberate killing can be reduced from murder to manslaughter by reason of the killer’s "diminished responsibility".

An overarching law which mandates life sentences for all offences has been criticised as unjust and absurd.

Will PC Andrew Harper's killers get life in prison?

PC Andrew Harper's killers Long, Cole and Bowers have been jailed for between 13 and 16 years for his manslaughter.

An appeal by the Attorney General to increase their time behind bars was rejected.

The smirking culprits hugged after the verdicts to cheers from their families.

In PC Harper’s case the trial judge said: "The jury were not sure that Henry Long knew that … the car he was driving was dragging a human body.

"That is what the prosecution had to prove before anyone could be convicted of murder and they did not succeed in doing so."

Dominic Raab has said that the law will not be retrospective, meaning PC Harper's killers will not have their sentences altered under this law.