Pc Andrew Harper: Uncle of newlywed officer killed on duty calls for 'more protection' for police

Pc Harper was tragically killed while attending a reported burglary, Thames Valley Police confirmed
Stephanie Cockroft17 August 2019
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The uncle of Pc Andrew Harper, who was killed on duty after being dragged along by a vehicle, has called for "more protection" for police officers.

Mark Harper said the tragic death of his nephew highlighted the need for there to be a "greater deterrent" for criminals who attack officers.

Pc Harper, 28, died following a "serious incident" at about 11.30pm on Thursday near the A4 Bath Road, between Reading and Newbury, at the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire.

The grieving relative told MailOnline: "Police officers need more protection. If anything good can come out of something as tragic as this, it has to be a greater deterrent to criminals."

Pc Harper is the first officer to be killed on duty since March 2017, when unarmed Pc Keith Palmer was stabbed by Khalid Masood during the Westminster Bridge terror attack.

The Thames Valley police officer with his wife Lissie at the couple's wedding just four weeks ago (AP)
Mark Lord via AP

The latest incident comes after a police constable was run over by a suspected car thief in Birmingham last week. The married 42-year-old traffic officer from West Midlands Police is facing "potentially life-changing" injuries.

Also last week, Metropolitan Police constable Stuart Outten, 28, was left with head and hand injuries after challenging a motor offences suspect allegedly armed with a machete in Leyton, east London.

A police officer lays flowers at the scene
EPA

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it a "mindless and brutal" crime, saying he was "shocked and appalled" by the attack.

Today, as police continue to investigate the incident, grieving officers lay floral tributes at the scene where the newlywed police officer died.

One tribute described him as "Thames Valley's finest", while another read: "A shockingly sad day. We come together as a brotherhood at times like this and hopefully your family can take some comfort from that love and support."

Thames Valley Chief Constable John Campbell said Pc Harper was at the scene with a fellow officer and was out of his police car when the incident occurred.

One floral tribute read "Thames Valley's finest"
PA

He added: "What we do know is Andrew had been dragged along by a vehicle." He said he was not aware of Pc Harper being hit by a second vehicle.

One witness, who did not want to be named, told the Daily Mail that Pc Harper's colleague was crouched over his body which was lying on the lane.

Flowers have been left at the scene
PA

They added: "The officer's crewmate was shouting, saying 'stay with me, stay with me. Keep breathing'."

A post-mortem examination is taking place to establish the cause of death.

Thames Valley police officer killed while investigating burglary

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Mr Campbell said that Pc Harper joined as a special constable in 2010 before becoming a police officer a year later, serving in the Roads Policing Proactive Unit based at Abingdon Police Station.

He added that the officer "only married four weeks ago".

Pictures show Pc Harper and his new wife Lissie celebrating their wedding at the award-winning stately venue Ardington House, a Georgian manor in Oxfordshire set in gardens and parkland.

Mr Campbell said Pc Harper was a "highly regarded, popular member of the team", adding: "Everybody I've spoken to about Andrew talked about the incredible personality he was, what a fantastic police officer, and what a great friend and man he was, and he'll be sorely missed by everybody."

Thames Valley Police said 10 boys and men aged between 13 and 30 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are in custody at various police stations in the force area.

Police said the suspects were detained within about an hour of the incident and officers are working "hard and diligently to find out what happened".

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call police on 101.

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