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
3 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Deferred
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
Government Response
The government states this recommendation is for the Parole Board to respond to, who has indicated they will undertake a review of their Listings Priority Framework, and the government awaits the outcome.
Ministry of Justice
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9 Recommendation Deferred
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
Government Response
The government states it will not reduce the eligibility period for licence termination from 10 to 5 years, but will review the policy and practice for suspending supervision in appropriate cases. The response does not address the core recommendation regarding access to community probation officers or the adequacy of officer contact.
Ministry of Justice
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10 Conclusion Deferred
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
Government Response
The government rejects the premise that IPP offenders are recalled unnecessarily and details existing and imminent changes to electronic monitoring policy. It does not address the core request for regular updates on licence termination numbers.
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