PC Andrew Harper’s colleague says Government is ‘spitting in the face of police’ over killers’ early release

ONE of the first cops on the scene after PC Andrew Harper was dragged to his death has accused the Government of “spitting in the faces of police officers”. Retired dog-handler Chris Bushnell spoke out as Downing Street ruled out an exemption that would stop PC Harper’s killers getting early release. No 10’s rejection means that two of the officer’s three smirking killers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, will be free within months — despite one of the biggest-ever public petitions demanding they be kept locked up. Chris, 59, drove after the cold-blooded burglary gang that dragged 28-year-old newlywed Andrew to his death in August 2019. He told the Old Bailey how the gang tried to ram his car with their Seat Toledo before fleeing the scene to their homes on traveller sites. Chris spoke of the pain he still endures over his colleague’s death — and his anger that two of the killers are due to be freed. READ MORE ON PC HARPER He said: “When I first heard they could be let out early, I was shaking. It’s absolutely outrageous. “I am angry with them, but I’m also angry with the Government. They’re spitting in the face of police officers.” Chris said the prospect of early release will impact and demoralise many officers traumatised by losing a colleague in such a violent way. He said: “This belittles them. It makes them feel worthless.” Most read in The Sun Chris, who retired from Thames Valley Police in 2022, said he will “never forgive” Andrew’s killers for what they did. He added: “To think these people could be out within weeks is appalling. The Government has to understand that this was the death of a police officer. “Andy did his duty that night. The least they can do is show respect.” Chris was working on a West Berkshire dog unit when Andrew was killed, and recalled having a cup of tea with him earlier in the day. He said: “He was so friendly and always asked about the dog. He was an animal-lover, a nice lad.” Late that night Chris was alerted on his police radio about a burglary gang that stole a £10,000 Honda quad bike from a house near Sulhamstead, Berkshire. Unbeknown to Chris, Andrew had been lassoed round his ankles by a trailing rope from the teenage traveller gang’s car. Andrew — due to go on honeymoon with wife Lissie after he finished his shift — was dragged more than a mile down a country lane. Chris was waiting in a lay-by for the suspects’ vehicle when he saw it emerge from the darkness without its lights on. He later fought back tears as he told the Old Bailey how he initially believed Andrew’s body was a deer carcass — before realising it was human as it accelerated away. Chris pursued the vehicle and came to a fork in the road, telling jurors when he looked to the right he saw the Seat driving at him. He said: “Without warning it was coming straight towards me. “I then reared to the left. I took the view that they had deliberately chosen to drive straight at me.” Chris gave chase after the vehicle until an inspector instructed him over the radio to stop. In the meantime, Andrew’s patrol partner radioed: “My crewmate is gone. I don’t know where he is.” Minutes later Chris received the devastating news that his colleague had been killed. He said: “I’ve seen people die before. I’ve seen suicides. This was beyond brutal. It was awful.” Chris was left “numb and in disbelief”. He received counselling and support from the Police Federation, and revisits the scene of Andrew’s death every year. He said: “I will never get over it.” A petition organised by PC Harper’s Police Federation branch — demanding his killers are kept behind bars — was set to hit 900,000 signatures on Monday evening. Aileen O’Connor, chair of the branch, said: “The public are speaking loudly and clearly. The silence from the Government is deafening. What they’re doing is indefensible.” SPLIT OVER RELEASE RULES By Ryan Sabey DOWNING Street insists it is “not possible” to exempt PC Andrew Harper’s killers from early release — despite an ex-Labour adviser saying emergency legislation could block it. No10 said the manslaughter of an emergency worker is not a “standalone offence”, so Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers cannot be treated differently to others jailed for manslaughter. Public fury has erupted with 900,000 people signing a petition for them to remain in jail beyond the halfway stage of their 13-year sentence. When asked if the Government could do more, No10 said: “The PM has pushed hard and his focus now is on fixing the prison system long-term to avoid a repeat of this crisis.” But Danny Shaw, a former Labour adviser, said the Government can block the early release through emergency legislation. He said excluding prisoners jailed for more than ten years for manslaughter would keep 220 inmates inside — including Bowers and Cole.