The U.K. Independence Party is backing campaigns launched by family members of P.C. Andrew Harper who was brutally killed whilst apprehending burglars.

PC Harper’s widow, Lissie Harper, last week launched a campaign calling for "Andrew's Law" in memory of her husband that would see life imprisonment for anyone who kills a police officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor or paramedic.

Separately, Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, launched a similar campaign to require killers of police officers to receive minimum jail terms of 20 years.

UKIP Law & Order Spokesman, Steve Unwin, stated:

“Both campaigns highlight changes in the law this country needs to deal with attacks on the police and the mindless murder in particular of police officers and other emergency workers in the performance of their services.

“UKIP’s manifestos in previous General Elections have stated we would ensure that sentencing protocols introduced for attacks on police officers are strictly adhered to. The proposals put forward in the name of “Andrew’s Law” would ensure tougher sentences and a greater consistency with sentencing.”

A year ago, on 15 August 2019, 28-year-old police constable Andrew Harper was killed in West Berkshire, whilst on duty. Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of the burglary of a quad bike, after which Harper was dragged for 1 mile in 91 seconds behind a car causing his death. On 31 July 2020, three teenage males were convicted of manslaughter and received sentences of 16 and 13 years' imprisonment. “In the light of the very brutal nature of the killing of PC Andrew Harper, and the fact that these criminals tend to be out of jail early, most fair-thinking people would agree these sentences were far too lenient. Our police officers deserve justice whilst they put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public” added Mr. Unwin.

Steve Unwin
UKIP Spokesman for Law & Order