Thames Valley Police’s chief constable has said he would consider joining legal action over the possible early release of people convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper.
Jason Hogg told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he was receiving legal advice and would “certainly” look at becoming involved in a challenge being pursued by the Police Federation. His comments add to pressure on ministers over the government’s early prisoner release scheme, which is intended to ease severe pressure on prison places.
PC Harper, a Thames Valley officer, died while on duty in 2019. The case has continued to carry deep significance for the force, for his family and for police officers more widely. Hogg said the prospect of early release had had a “profound impact” on Thames Valley Police.
Asked whether he would join the case, Hogg said it was something he would consider, while urging the government to look again at the matter. He said he believed public opinion was “overwhelming” and warned that confidence in the criminal justice system risked being damaged.
The Police Federation has said it is preparing a legal challenge over the possible release. Aileen O’Connor, chairwoman of Thames Valley Police Federation, has said the organisation would commit significant legal resources to the case. She told Times Radio that many officers in Thames Valley felt strongly about the prospect of release within weeks.
The dispute centres on how the government’s revised early release arrangements apply to prisoners convicted of manslaughter. Ministers have said the scheme is necessary because the prison system is under acute strain. They argue that without enough prison capacity, police arrests, court cases and public safety would be put at risk.
Justice minister Jake Richards said the government understood the anger felt by PC Harper’s family and police officers. Speaking to broadcasters, he said ministers faced difficult decisions because a functioning prison system was essential to the wider law and order system.
The government has already changed the scheme after intervention from the prime minister, with around 1,000 fewer prisoners expected to be released early. Those convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming have been excluded from the arrangements.
However, manslaughter is not among the offences removed from the new regime. Richards told BBC Breakfast that Harper’s Law, which strengthened sentencing for offenders who kill emergency workers, does not apply retrospectively. He said it would not be lawful to select individual cases from wider groups of offences for different treatment.
The minister said the new regime is due to take effect from 1 October and that the offences excluded from it have been published. He also said victims would be contacted and invited to set out what measures they want in place to help keep them safe.
The case highlights a wider tension in the criminal justice system. Police leaders and victims’ representatives are focused on the impact of early release decisions on confidence, safety and the families affected by serious crime. Ministers are emphasising prison capacity and the risk that overcrowding could undermine policing and the courts.
For the public, the practical issue is whether the prison system can reduce overcrowding while maintaining confidence that serious cases are handled fairly. The government is likely to face further scrutiny over which offences are excluded from early release and how victims are informed before prisoners are freed.
Hogg’s decision to seek legal advice means the challenge could gain support from the police force most directly affected by PC Harper’s death. Ministers have not indicated that manslaughter will be added to the list of excluded offences, leaving the dispute to continue as the start date for the new release regime approaches.
