Andrew Harper: Detectives given more time to question suspects over police officer's death

Tributes and flowers left at scene in the Berkshire village of Bradfield Southend

Detectives have been given further time to question 10 suspects arrested on suspicion of the murder of PC Andrew Harper.

The 28-year-old officer with Thames Valley Police was killed while investigating a reported burglary in Berkshire on Thursday night.

He suffered multiple injuries after being dragged under a vehicle near the village of Bradfield Southend.

Ten males aged between 13 and 30 were all arrested at a caravan park within an hour of the incident.

Police were initially granted an extra 36 hours to question the suspects on Saturday.

Permission to detain them for a further 24 hours was granted at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Sunday night.

Thames Valley Police said the suspects were a 13-year-old boy, two 16 year-old boys and a 30-year-old man from Burghfield Common, Berkshire; A 20 year-old man from Burghfield, Berkshire;a 17 year-old man from Aldermaston, Berkshire; an 18 year-old from Mortimer, Berkshire; a 20 year-old man from Reading, Berkshire; and two men aged 17 and 24 from Bramley in Hampshire.

Flowers and tributes have been left at the scene where PC Harper lost his life. One left by his family began: “We will never recover – our darling Andrew”.

Another message read: ”A great cop, a great man, a great friend. There will always be a part of my heart missing now.”

A fundraising page set up by Thames Valley Police Federation has raised more than £160,000 to support the officer’s widow Lissie and his family.

It reads: “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.”