PC Andrew Harper's mother backs honour for injured emergency workers

BBC News

08-07-2025

The mother of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty has warned that seriously-injured members of the emergency services feel "brushed aside".PC Andrew Harper from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, died in Berkshire after being dragged along the road by three teenage quad bike thieves in 2019. His mother Debbie Adlam is backing a campaign to honour those who suffer life-changing and career-ending injuries.She is joining injured police and firefighters gathering at Parliament later, urging MPs to recognise their sacrifice with a specific medal.
The Home Office said it was considering proposals about recognising injured emergency service personnel.The Elizabeth Emblem, named after the late Queen, was introduced in 2024 and is given to the next of kin of deceased police officers, firefighters and public servants in recognition of their loved ones.However former Sussex Police officer Tom Curry said it was a "scandal" there is not similar recognition for those who were received injuries on duty that were serious enough to end their careers.Now 75, he had to leave the force in1989 after suffering serious neck and back injuries while attending nightclub brawl, weeks away from being awarded his long-service medal.He is leading a campaign to recognise officers who, in many cases were injured alongside colleagues who died, but unlike their colleagues' families, received no official recognition of the impact on their lives since.He highlighted cases including the IRA bomb at Harrods in 1983 in which three police officers were killed and a further 14 injured. "In many cases their actions were the same as those who were killed, but they've been ignored or forgotten. You feel worthless.""If I go to a Remembrance Day parade, I've got nothing to show that I was ever a copper."
PC Harper, 28, died when he was dragged for more than a mile along a road by a getaway car, near Stanford Dingley in Berkshire, on 15 August 2019.He had been married for just four weeks before his death.Ms Adlam said she was supporting the campaign "for Andrew's colleagues"."[Injured emergency service personnel] suffered mentally and physically through their bravery and had no recognition of their sacrifice."They've left their jobs and their lives have just ceased - I'm worried about the mental state of people."Police and other emergency services is a vocation - there is a reason why these people do it, but if they feel brushed aside, it means they question a lot of things."What happened to them may be just five minutes on the news, but they have to live with it for the rest of their lives," she added.
More than 30 seriously injured personnel are due to gather outside Parliament and meet MPs on Tuesday. Mr Curry said his campaign has the support of more than 270 MPs from all parties.The Home Office said: "This government recognises the courage of emergency service personnel injured in the line of duty."That is why the Policing Minister has met with stakeholders to discuss the introduction of medals and is paying close attention to the campaign."The proposals are being considered and an update will be provided in due course."
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