Offenders whose crimes lead to the death of an emergency service worker in the line of duty will receive mandatory life sentences under a new law brought about after the death of police officer Andrew Harper.
The ruling, announced by the government, follows a two-year campaign by Lissie Harper, whose police officer husband was killed while answering a late-night burglary call.
She previously said she was “outraged” over the sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for her husband’s death.
Named “Harper’s law”, the new legislation will make it on to the statute books via an amendment to the existing police, crime, sentencing and courts bill and is likely take effect early next year.
This story is from the November 24, 2021 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 24, 2021 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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