Five Inmates Remain Jailed 16 Years After Short IPP Sentences

In England and Wales, five prisoners given indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP) with minimum tariffs of less than six months are still in prison more than 16 years later, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data.

The controversial IPP sentences, established in 2005 and discontinued in 2012 due to human rights concerns, aimed to protect the public from individuals deemed dangerous.

Yet many prisoners remain jailed long after completing their minimum terms.

Figures revealed in a response to a question from Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, showed five of the 1,095 IPP prisoners never released had initial tariffs under six months.

Campaigners and groups like Ungripp, which advocates for families of IPP inmates, expressed shock at the extended imprisonment and called the situation 'horrendous.' Many of these inmates, sentenced before 2008 when the practice ended for short tariffs, have served considerably longer than their original terms.

A 2022 justice select committee report suggested resentencing all IPP prisoners, but this was dismissed.

However, changes are forthcoming, with the justice secretary Shabana Mahmood planning a review, and prisons minister James Timpson set to announce the termination of licenses for over 1,000 IPP offenders on probation.

To qualify, offenders must have been free from custody for at least five years without a recent recall.

The MoJ emphasized its commitment to public safety while supporting rehabilitation and mental health initiatives for affected prisoners.