PC Andrew Harper's widow Lissie has said she will step away from the media spotlight when the new 'Harper's Law' is passed.

Andrew Harper was killed in the line of duty in August 2019.

He was responding to a 999 call for burglary of a quad bike when he came face to face with his killers. 

Henry Long was driving the car towing the quad bike ridden by Jessie Cole.

As PC Harper's police car stopped them, Cole got off the quad bike unlooped the tow straps and jumped in the car through the window with Albert Bowers in the passenger seat.

PC Harper got out of his car to try and apprehend Cole but became tangled in the tow straps as Long drove off down windy country roads.

READ: TIMELINE - What happened on the night PC Harper died? 

He died from his catastrophic injuries. 

Herald Series: (L to R) Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers (Thames Valley Police/PA)(L to R) Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers (Thames Valley Police/PA)

At the Old Bailey ringleader Long was jailed for 16 years in prison, Bowers for 13 years and Cole for 13 years. 

READ: LIVE from the Old Bailey - the sentecning of PC Harper killers 

In the next two and a half years, Lissie Harper has worked tirelessly campaigning for 'Harper's Law' - a law that will see anyone found guilty of killing an emergency worker jailed for life. This means they will get a life sentence, including an ‘adequate’ portion of that served in jail.

Emergency workers will include: police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, paramedics, prison officers.

Herald Series: Lissie Harper at the National Police MemorialLissie Harper at the National Police Memorial

She said: "I found this process to be incredibly exhausting and complicated. Myself and my team have put in a lot of time. Myself and Acting Inspector Andy Fiddler, of Thames Valley Police, have worked many hours and long days, Zoom calls, meetings in London and beyond, talks in Parliament, Party Conferences, meeting with Emergency Services unions and lots of rallying for support.

“We have always remained driven and determined to keep going until we achieved our goal of Harper’s Law... In our minds It was only a matter of time. Once Harper’s Law is officially through I will say goodbye to my political experience. Although there are so many causes that are dear to my heart and lots that needs to be changed. I set out on this journey with one goal in mind, something that sadly has become very personal to me due to the loss of my husband in 2019. However a role in politics is not something that I aspire to involve myself in once my battle has been won.

"I feel that I have come a long way in the last two and a half years. I don’t think I will ever fully come to terms with Andrew’s death, such an unexpected and shocking change to my life and the future we had planned. But I am so grateful for the support I have received from the public - partly with Harper’s Law but also with my grief in general. I have made many, many incredible friends during this journey to add to the support group that already carried me through the hardest times.

“Who knows what the future holds for me? But I plan to be grateful for every moment, take myself away from the media spotlight and live how Andrew would want me to - to be happy and listen to my heart, to do things that I feel are right. My moral compass - like Andrew’s - will always remain honourable." 

-

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok

Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here

List an event for free on our website here