Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Sep 2021 Closed: 30 May 2024 Parliament page
Following the announcement that a General Election will be held on 4 July, Select Committees will be unable to meet from 24 May and will cease to exist from 30 May until after the General Election. This work has therefore closed. As of 30 June 2021, more than 1,700 people … Read more
15 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
26 Apr
2023
Correspondence
9 Feb
2023
Report published
19 Oct
2022
Correspondence
28 Sep
2022
Report published
21 Jan
2022
Correspondence
14 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
7 Dec
2021
Oral evidence
23 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
14 Dec 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Caroline Corby · Parole Board Dr Jo Bailey · HM Prison and Probation Service Mr Martin Jones · Parole Board Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP · Ministry of Justice Sonia Flynn · HM Prison and Probation Service
7 Dec 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Dr Jonathan Bild · Sentencing Academy Professor Graham Towl · Durham University Professor Nick Hardwick · Department of Law and Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London The Rt Hon. the Lord Blunkett, former Home Secretary (2001-2004) The Rt Hon. the Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (2013-2017)
23 Nov 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Donna Mooney · UNGRIPP Dr Dinesh Maganty · Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Dr Mia Harris · Prison Reform Trust Miss Shirley Debono · UNGRIPP Russell Webster, Independent Prisons Consultant
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - IPP sentences HC 266 28 Sep 2022 22 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
22 results
1 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
IPP Action Plan lacks strategic priority, operational detail, timeframes, and performance measures
Given the extensive and complex nature of the challenges faced by IPP sentenced individuals, we find the absence of detail in the IPP Action Plan surprising. It lacks a clear strategic priority and ownership, as well as operational detail, timeframes, … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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2 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Develop new IPP Action Plan including performance measures, accountable owners, and timeframes
We recommend the MoJ and HMPPS develop a new action plan, which should include clear performance measures for each of its workstreams. The new action plan should also, against each workstream, include an accountable owner for the workstream, and a … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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3 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
IPP sentences inflict psychological harm, creating barriers to prisoner progression and trust
The psychological harm caused by IPP sentences is a considerable barrier to progression for some IPP prisoners. The indefinite nature of the sentence has contributed to feelings of hopelessness and despair that has resulted in high levels of self-harm and … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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4 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Establish clear support for mentally unwell prisoners remitted to prison from secure hospitals
Additionally, there are a small number of mentally unwell prisoners who are subsequently transferred to a secure mental hospital. For these prisoners, the process for post-tariff release is more complex, and we are not clear what support is offered to … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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5 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Ensure sufficient availability of courses for IPP prisoners, reduce waiting lists and improve placements
We are concerned to hear that the availability of appropriate courses for IPP prisoners is limited. The MoJ and HMPPS must ensure that there are enough places on courses available to all those who need them. As part of the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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6 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
Lack of transparency in programme evaluations hinders confidence in IPP prisoner outcomes
Programmes, pathways and other interventions are often relied upon by HMPPS and the Parole Board to help determine risk, and so it is vital that they deliver the outcomes they purport to deliver. We are concerned about the lack of … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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7 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Publish Professor Moran's report and ensure all IPP programmes deliver adequate outcomes for prisoners
The Government should publish the commissioned report from Professor Paul Moran into the Offender Personality Disorder pathway by December 2022. In addition, the MoJ and HMPPS should set out what work is being done to ensure that all programmes delivered … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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8 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
Ineffective parole process for IPP offenders creates significant barriers due to resource issues
Our inquiry has highlighted wider resource issues within the Probation Service and the Parole Board. We have heard about frequent delays, untrained Parole Board members, frequent changes in professionals essential to the parole process, uncertainty following a negative parole decision … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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9 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Ensure all IPP prisoners have access to a community probation officer with adequate contact
It is unacceptable that some prisoners do not have access to a community probation officer. HMPPS should set out why this is the case, and what work is being done to ensure that all IPP prisoners have access to a … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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10 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
Indefinite licence periods detrimentally affect IPP offenders' mental health and rehabilitation
Spending an indefinite period of time on licence in the community is detrimental to the mental health and rehabilitation of IPP offenders, and in many cases is not proportionate to the index offence. We welcome the introduction of automatic referral … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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11 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
Initiate legislation to reduce the qualifying IPP licence period from 10 to five years
Furthermore, we support a reduction of the qualifying licence period from 10 years to five years. This change would go some way to restoring proportionality to the IPP sentence. The MoJ should initiate legislation to this effect as soon as … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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12 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Implement strategies to tackle the IPP recall merry-go-round, examining thresholds and resettlement support
The recalled population of IPP offenders is a growing concern and will soon be larger than the population of IPP prisoners who have never been released from custody. The Government needs to devote far greater energy and resource to tackling … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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13 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Grant recalled IPP prisoners right to oral Parole Board hearings and annual reviews
The Parole Board should have a greater role in decision-making around recalls. All IPP prisoners who have been recalled, not having received a new custodial sentence for committing a further offence, should have the right to an oral parole board … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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14 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Recall of IPP sentenced individuals presents growing problem for resettlement and reintegration
As set out earlier in this Report, the recall of IPP sentenced individuals is a growing problem. IPP prisoners face particular challenges with resettlement, and careful consideration must therefore be given as to how they are prepared for their release … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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15 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Provide updates on IPP prisoner resettlement, detailing Resettlement Passports and pre-release preparation
We welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all prison leavers leave prison with the basics, such as ID and a bank account, and ask that updates on this programme of work be provided to us. We would also welcome … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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16 Conclusion
Third Report - IPP sentences
IPP sentence remains irredeemably flawed, requiring more than current measures
Our Report has set out various steps the Government needs to take to help address the IPP problem. But it is clear to us that, while these measures are necessary, they will not be sufficient on their own to deal … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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17 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Require primary legislation to enable a comprehensive IPP resentencing exercise
As Lord Thomas noted in R v Roberts: “It was Parliament which legislated to establish a regime of sentences of IPP in terms which the courts have faithfully and IPP sentences 61 properly applied. It must, in our democracy and … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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18 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Bring forward legislation to enable IPP resentencing for all sentenced individuals
Our primary recommendation is that the Government brings forward legislation to enable a resentencing exercise in relation to all IPP sentenced individuals (except for those who have successfully had their licence terminated). This is the only way to address the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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19 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Prevent indefinite imprisonment of offenders due to lack of community resources
Concerns about available community resource for released offenders are valid and need to be taken into consideration. However, the lack of such resource is not a suitable reason for keeping people imprisoned indefinitely. We reiterate the words of our predecessor … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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20 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Establish an expert committee to advise on practical implementation of IPP resentencing
We have not sought to set out the terms of the proposed legislation to enable the resentencing exercise, which will ultimately be for Parliament to consider. We do, however, recommend that it should comply with the key principles that we … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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21 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Resentencing exercise for IPP prisoners must balance public protection, individual justice, and judicial independence.
In establishing how to undertake a resentencing exercise of IPP prisoners and what legislation would be needed, it will be important to keep in mind the following three key principles: (Paragraph 175) a) Balancing protection of the public with justice … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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22 Recommendation
Third Report - IPP sentences
Large-scale resentencing for IPP prisoners, despite complexity, urgently requires action from all state branches.
We do not underestimate the complexity of undertaking a large-scale resentencing exercise for IPP prisoners. It would require careful thought, significant planning, and sufficient resource. However, the potential difficulties do not justify failing to grasp the nettle. All three branches … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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Correspondence 3 letters
26 Apr 2023 To committee Letter from Alex Chalk KC MP, Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Justice, dated 26 April 2023, on the Imprisonment for Public Protection Action Plan
Parliament page
19 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from Brandon Lewis CBE MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 18 October 2022, on the IPP sentences report
Parliament page
21 Jan 2022 Open letter on IPP inquiry
Parliament page