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 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
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
7 Dec
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
23 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - IPP sentences HC 266 28 Sep 2022 22 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
4 Recommendation Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government accepts that sufficient programme places should be provided for suitable IPP prisoners. It states that bespoke sentence planning and a review of prisoner location will be incorporated into the IPP Action Plan review, without committing to specific new actions.
Ministry of Justice
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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
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
Government Response
The government explained its historical decision not to abolish IPP sentences retrospectively and stated that the existing IPP Action Plan remains the best approach. It committed to reviewing the Action Plan in light of the committee's recommendations to ensure it offers the best support, but did not commit to specific actions regarding recall thresholds, approved premises, or alternatives to emergency recall.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 22 of 15 classified
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 3
Rejected 7
Total 15 recs + 7 conclusions
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