Judges yesterday ruled that although his crimes were "horrifying", they did not justify a whole-life sentence for the former United States marine.

They rejected claims that the sentence breached his human rights.

Bieber was one of only 25 people to be given the tough punishment when he was sentenced in 2004 for the killing of Pc Ian Broadhurst in Leeds the previous year. The married officer was shot at point-blank range during a routine check on a stolen vehicle.

Bieber was also convicted of the attempted murders of Pc Broadhurst's colleagues, Pcs Neil Roper and James Banks.

Yesterday the court said Bieber must serve a minimum of 37 years before being considered for release on licence – which still means the 42-year-old might die in prison, but he does now have a chance of leaving prison.

Last night Pc Broadhurst's widow Eilisa said she was close to tears when she heard the judges' decision.

"I just feel that Ian's life now has no value – he died for nothing and now he's getting no justice here at all," she told the Yorkshire Post. "The judge is basically saying it's OK to kill a police officer.

"I could actually cry when thinking about what this judge has said. I'm so disappointed in the justice system – it's sending out a message that the lives of police officers have no value.

"I think the judge is saying that the things police officers do for us as a community aren't worth protecting. I just feel so disappointed by this. This pain never ends for me."

Mr Broadhurst's mother Cindy Eaton said: "I think it's a sad day, a very sad day, especially for those serving in the force. It's a real blow to them and us.

"The courts are thinking about Mr Bieber's human rights and his welfare but Ian was killed in a brutal execution style. Where were his human rights that day? Where were ours?

"This will open the floodgates now for all of the other bad ones who were given 'life'. I worry for all of the other young people out there in this country contemplating joining the police force if this is how the courts and the Government view the worth of a police officer's life."

Chairman of the Police Federation's constables committee Julie Nesbit said it was a disgrace and an insult.

"Bieber is a monster. Did he stop to consider Ian's human rights, or the rights of his family, when he shot him dead at point blank range?

"Society expects police officers to put themselves between trouble and the public," she said.

"The decision lets down all police officers and is nothing more than a victory and green light for those vicious and senseless thugs who think nothing of taking the life of a police officer."

Christine Fulton, a family friend and president of the charity Care of Police Survivors, added: "Bieber murdered Ian in cold blood. He knew what he was doing and didn't hesitate to do it – and in my book there's no argument in this case that life should mean life.

"Police officers doing their job to help the public deserve the support and protection of the justice system. Police officers put themselves in great danger and they need and deserve that protection.

"Criminals have to understand that murdering a police officer is a very serious thing. I understand fully why Ian's family are so angry about this."

Bieber had argued at the Court of Appeal that his whole-life prison sentence was a breach of his human rights.

Three judges headed by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, rejected argument by defence lawyers that whole-life jail terms in principle amounted to a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This states that no one shall be subjected to "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". But the court held that the particular facts of Bieber's case, "horrifying though they were", did not justify a "life means life" sentence.

In October 2006, the Court of Appeal rejected Bieber's appeal against his convictions, saying the evidence against him was "overwhelming".

Shipley's Conservative MP Philip Davies, who has called for human rights legislation to be scrapped, said last night: "I agree with the family wholeheartedly – life should mean life.

"In this particular case there should be no question that the chap should serve the rest of his life behind bars and I'm disturbed the judge doesn't see it like that. It's totally unacceptable that this chap has the prospect of being let out of prison."