The Police Federation of England & Wales responded to The Telegraph story on X, calling the early release policy “disgusting”.
Deputy national chairman Brian Booth said: “Police officers from across the country stood side by side to honour Andrew Harper at his funeral.
“They and every serving officer will be utterly sickened at the prospect of Bowers and Cole being back on the streets so soon.”
PC Harper responded to the quad bike call just hours after he had been due to clock off and begin his honeymoon with wife Lissie Harper.
After her husband’s death, she campaigned for legal changes to see harsher sentences for the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty.
Harper’s Law was among the new measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, external.
The move extends mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty including police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics.
It is not retrospective, meaning PC Harper’s killers cannot have their sentences extended.
New Justice Secretary Alex Norris has been urged to reconsider the early release scheme after being appointed by Andy Burnham on Monday.
Asked about reports that the prime minister could be working on exempting rapists and child groomers from the scheme, his spokesman said: “The Government’s fully focused on keeping the public safe.
“We’ve got no option but to take decisive action to fix the crisis in our prisons. I’m not going to get into speculation over possible policy changes.
“Of course, the Prime Minister will take decisions on all manner of policy areas in the future, including how we get justice for victims.”
