Thames Valley Police has welcomed confirmation that the killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early under changes to a controversial prison release scheme.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that prisoners convicted of manslaughter, indecent assault and causing death by dangerous driving will now be exempt from the early release arrangements, which were designed to help ease pressure on prisons.
The move means the two men convicted of the manslaughter of the policeman will remain behind bars under the terms of their original sentences.
Chief Constable Jason Hogg recently met with the Lord Chancellor alongside Thames Valley Police Federation chair Aileen O'Connor and Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber to raise concerns about the potential early release of the offenders and the impact it could have on victims, communities and policing.
Welcoming the decision, Mr Hogg said: "Today's confirmation that these offenders will not be released under the proposed arrangements will be welcomed by many across policing and our communities.
"Over recent weeks we have consistently expressed our concerns about the potential impact these release arrangements could have had on Andrew Harper's family, friends and colleagues, the wider policing service and the communities he served.
"I am grateful that those concerns were listened to and carefully considered."
He said Thames Valley Police's focus throughout the process had been to ensure the views of victims, families, colleagues and communities were heard and properly considered alongside wider pressures on the criminal justice system.
Mr Hogg added: "We know this case has resonated far beyond Thames Valley Police.
"Today's announcement may bring reassurance not only to Andrew's family, but to other victims and bereaved families who have followed this issue closely and who continue to seek confidence that the most serious offences are treated with the gravity they deserve."
He said the announcement was "not about politics" but about remembering Pc Harper and recognising the lasting impact of his death on those who knew him, the communities he protected and officers serving today.
PC Harper, 28, died on August 15, 2019 after becoming caught in a tow rope attached to a quad bike being used by thieves near Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
His mother, Debbie Adlam, said she was "grateful" for the decision but described the past few months as "quite traumatic".
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said: "I'm glad that we don't have to go through any more of this now.
"It's a really mixed bag of emotions, though, because on the one hand we are glad, but we've been brought through the mill, and we are only back at where we were to start with."
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