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Ten Arrested After Death of Newlywed Police Officer Who was 'Run Over and Dragged by Car Until Dead

The Telegraph UK, 16 Aug 2019.





Pc Andrew Harper, pictured with his wife Lissie, was killed on Thursday night after attending a reported burglary in Berkshire UK


Ten people have been arrested following the death of a police officer who was dragged some distance by a car involved in a reported burglary in Berkshire.

Pc Andrew Harper, a traffic officer, and a fellow policeman had been called to the burglary on Thursday night before the "serious incident" about 11.30pm near the A4, Bath Road, between Reading and Newbury.

Pc Harper, 28, was struck by a car and then dragged by the vehicle for some distance before being hit by another car.

Thames Valley Police said 10 boys and men aged between 13 and 30 were arrested on suspicion of murder "within an hour or so" of the incident, and remain in custody at various police stations in the force area.

Pc Harper had been a regular police officer since 2011, and married his fiancee, Lissie, just four weeks before he was killed.




Pc Harper married his girlfriend Lissie four weeks before he was killed



The couple had been due to go on their honeymoon in a few days.
Photographs posted by the couple on their Facebook pages at the end of July show them at their wedding, posing for photographs in the landscaped grounds of a stately home.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "totally shocked" by the death, while the Home Secretary Priti Patel said her thoughts were "with his loved ones" and the service Pc Harper had given "will not be forgotten."





Pc Harper had been a regular police officer since 2011



"I will do everything in my power as Home Secretary to ensure that I support the police so that our police force are protected to carry on serving their communities," she said.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also expressed his condolences.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon,

Thames Valley Police Chief Constable John Campbell confirmed details of the incident and said a post-mortem was taking place "as we speak".

Chief Constable Campbell acknowledged the incident had been difficult for Pc Harper's colleagues and thanked members of the community for their cooperation.

Asked whether he thought policing had become more dangerous, he said: "I think policing has always been dangerous. For those of us that have been in the police for some time, we have seen an increase in violence."

Chief Constable Campbell acknowledged the injuries of Pc Outten and another officer in Birmingham in the past fortnight.

"There will always be those who have a disregard for law and order, and it is those people who we as a service seek to protect the public from," he said.




The couple married in mid-July at a stately home in Oxfordshire


Tributes Paid to 'Loveliest Person You Will Ever Meet'

Members of Pc Harper's family paid tribute to him online.

His uncle Dale Shrimpton, from Burnham, near Windsor, wrote on Facebook:

“He’s my oldest Nephew. My sisters first born. Mum and dads first grandson... And was married two weeks ago at a dream wedding. We are devastated . He was the loveliest person that you will ever meet. I can't begin to tell you how we feel..

The young policeman’s grandmother, Maureen Shrimpton, added in her own tribute:
“Just a really horrible day. Our grandson Andrew was killed last night while doing his police work. So proud of him. Our love goes to his lovely wife, Mum and Dad, brother and all of his family and friends. Love from Nan and Bubba xxx”




The scene near Reading remains cordoned by police Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley


One of PC Harper’s former police colleagues, Fred Swanborough, wrote: "God bless, such a lovely bloke, had the pleasure of working alongside him for a short period last year.. Thank you for your service PC Harper, RIP."

PC Harper was born in Oxford, and his wife, who studied at Henley College, runs a print business and gift shop, selling handmade stationery and accessories, in nearby Wallingford.


Police Begin Murder Investigation

Officers remain at the scene of the incident, which is still cordoned off while evidence is gathered.

Forensic investigators could be seen gathering items that lay on the road and taking photographs. Two white tents have also been erected.

Police were also seen searching the inside of a grey BMW that was at the scene, according to witnesses.





Forensic officers were investigating at the scene on Friday afternoon Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley



Pictures of the scene show a blood trail on the road leading across the junction.
Police officers laid two bunches of flowers inside the cordon, while other officers guarded the perimeter.

Senior police officers gave statements on Friday about the incident.

Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “As a force we are devastated at the loss of our colleague and will all be supporting each other at this difficult time.





A man brings flowers to lay at the scene of Pc Harper's death Credit: Tony Kershaw/SWNS



“Our deepest thoughts at this time are of course with Andrew’s friends and family, who are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
“Our thoughts also extend to all of Andrew’s colleagues within Thames Valley Police."

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Blaik, of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: “This is a tragic incident, and I would like to reassure the public as well as our officers and staff that we have launched a full and thorough investigation to establish what has happened.

The arrested men are being held in "various police stations across the Thames Valley," police said.

'We know there is a risk when we put on the uniform'

Andy Fiddler, from Thames Valley Police Federation, said the news of the death was "devastating".

"All our thoughts - and the thoughts of the entire police family across the UK - are with the family, friends and close colleagues of Pc Andrew Harper who died last night.





Police said the circumstances surrounding Pc Harper's death are still being investigated Credit: Steve Parsons/PA


"Police officers go to work each and every day to do their duty. We are courageous, caring and compassionate. We confront danger on a daily basis. We know there is a risk when we put on the uniform but we do so as we are proud to protect the public.

"Sadly on very rare and horrendous occasions a colleague makes the ultimate sacrifice. We will ensure that heroism is never forgotten."


The Latest in a Series of Attacks Against Police

Pc Harper's death comes after a police constable was run over by a suspected car thief in Birmingham last week.

In Leyton, Metropolitan Police constable Stuart Outten, 28, was left with head and hand injuries after challenging a motor offences suspect allegedly armed with a machete last Friday.

Pc Harper is the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty since the death of Pc Keith Palmer in 2017.





Pc Harper is the first officer to be killed at work since the death of Pc Keith Palmer in 2017 Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA



John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said police deaths are "felt by the entire police family".

"Every day police officers run towards the unknown, putting themselves in harm's way to do their duty and protect the public," he said.

"Sadly, on awful occasions such as this they make the ultimate sacrifice."


RIP Andrew


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