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IPP lobby and March
Page
1)
COUNTING
DOWN TO THE 25 TH!
1.
Call all the MPs who have had letters
2.
Call the local radio stations to tell them and to say if your MP has agreed to
meet you.
3.
Call again - to get them to commit to a time
4.
MOST IMPORTANT - REMEMBER TO ASK FOR EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT. MAKE IT REASONABLE
/ ACHIEVABLE AND CLEAR.
On the day
important!
1.
Call the MPs to say how much you are looking forward to seeing them and remind
them where you are
2.
Have a person ready to take photos and tweet all day about who turned up. Find
someone good with social media and make it their job to live tweet. You cannot
take photos in Central Lobby so have a plan about where you can take people off
to (Westminster Hall would be good and you can take photos there)
3.
Have a press release ready for every MP and match it with a picture that you
send to the local paper. Send the press coverage with a thank you letter to the
MPs HOW: http://www.wikihow.com/Submit-a-Press-Release
Press Release
PROTEST AT WESTMINSTER TO SUPPORT THE RELEASE OF IPP
PRISONERS
For Immediate release / release
on __________________
Wed. 25th May 2016 11.00 a.m.
I will be lobbying parliament with my
MP………………………. The families, friends and supporters of the 4000 to 5000 IPP
prisoners still in jail, will be meeting at 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday 25th
May 2016 in the Central Lobby of the Palace of Westminster, to lobby MPs to
change the law so that IPP prisoners have a definite release date.
The IPP was first used in 2005, designed to
protect the public from serious offenders whose crimes did not merit a life
sentence. IPP offenders have to serve a minimum term (tariff) which is set by
the court, and then they have to appear before a Parole Board to prove that
they are no longer dangerous, before they can be released. In theory this
should have been a good idea. However, it became clear that there were a number
of problems with this sentence (not least the fact that IPP prisoners even when
released are on a 99-year licence – a life sentence, in other words), so in
December 2012, the government abolished it.
Although no more IPP sentences can be
imposed, the government did not make this retrospective, and those lobbying
will draw attention to the injustice of those IPP prisoners still in prison.
Many are years over their tariff and suffer additional mental health problems
because of the stress and uncertainty of their situation. Their families too
suffer extra stress, because they can never know exactly when their loved ones
will be released, and thus are unable to plan effectively for the future.
Once we have lobbied our MPs, we will march
to the Ministry of Justice for 3.00p.m to make similar representations there.
For further information, please contact
Name
Email
PAGE 2)
MOST
IMPORTANT!
Give
your MP a flyer - page 3, and ask him / her to……
1. Put
pressure on the MoJ / government to change the release test for IPP prisoners,
in accordance with section 128 of LASPO 2012*.
2. Persuade
the MoJ / government to convert IPP sentences into extended sentences (including all IPP prisoners now out on licence)**.
(it is no good ONLY asking
for the release test to be changed, as this might not get rid of the problem of
“life-licence.”)
(it is no good ONLY asking
for the release test to be changed, as this might not get rid of the problem of
“life-licence.”)
*Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of
Offenders Act 2012
**Extended sentences:-
The judge decides how long
the offender should stay in prison and also fixes the extended licence period
up to a maximum of eight years. The offender will either be entitled to
automatic release at the two thirds point of the custodial sentence or be
entitled to apply for parole at that point.
If
parole is refused the offender will be released at the expiry of the prison
term. Following release, the offender will be subject to the licence where he
will remain under the supervision of the National Offender Management Service
until the expiry of the extended period.
KEY
DIFFERENCES FROM THE IPP:-
·
Automatic release at expiry of prison term,
if not released sooner.
·
YOU MIGHT NEED THIS TOO
|
Government counter arguments against releasing IPP
prisoners
The
MoJ’s 3 main arguments against releasing post-tariff IPP prisoners are always:-
(A) The
sentences were legal at the time they were imposed, so the MoJ “can’t” do
anything about them.
(B) To
release IPP prisoners would release dangerous prisoners into the community
without any supervision
(C) “All”
that IPP prisoners have to do is to meet the requirements for their release.
(A) is incorrect, because the government
does have the power to change the sentences – under section 128 of LASPO 2012.
(B) can be dealt with (as the flyer
states) by converting the IPP sentences into the current sentence type for
“dangerous” prisoners: the extended sentence, which provides for supervision.
(C) is partially dealt with on the flyer.
·
However, it may also be worth pointing out
that the increased stress and high incidence of mental health issues
experienced by IPP prisoners mean that they are less likely to be able to stay
calm and keep out of trouble. They will then get a bad report, which means that
they will be refused parole, and will then be stuck in a vicious circle of “no
release = more stress = poor behaviour = no release.”
·
Determinate sentence prisoners can get away
with quite a lot of bad behaviour. IPP prisoners cannot afford even one black
mark against them. This is unjust.
·
The fact that IPP prisoners can be on licence
for life also needs to be raised here, because they have to meet those
requirements as well, which means they can never really make a new start.
THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE
ALSO AGREES…
|
On March 18th 2016, the
Lord Chief Justice dismissed 13 appeals against the
IPP sentence, which was bad news.
However, he also commented on the
problem presented by the IPP, in the paragraph below.
·
Points
2 & 3 are exactly the same as our action points 1 & 2 at the beginning
of this document, and point 1 is dealt with in the flyer, so it may be worth
pointing out to your MP that the Lord Chief Justice agrees with us!
THE PROBLEM WITH PRISONS
|
Useful reports or articles
“The Government sees no need to reduce
the number of prisoners, even though
it is now at record levels and the
highest in Western Europe…..
….The prison system consumes vast amounts
of taxpayers' money without delivering enough rehabilitation….
It is time we looked more closely at
why we have so many more men in custody than any of our European neighbours
with similar crime rates. Mandatory sentences, IPPs, sentencing guidelines,
recall from licence, political rhetoric and media misreporting have all played
a part. We need to develop other ways of asserting that we take crime seriously
than simply adding expensive additional years of custody to a sentence.”
Lord
Beith (Liberal Democrat peer and former chair of the House of Commons Justice
Committee)
24.3.16
Trouble in prisons has reached
epidemic levels, with recorded incidents of “concerted indiscipline” rising by
more than 200 per cent in the last three years, figures seen by the Howard
League for Penal Reform reveal today (24 March).
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics show that prisons in England and Wales recorded 282 incidents during 2015 – more than five a week – as they struggled to cope with growing numbers of prisoners, chronic overcrowding and deep staff cuts.
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics show that prisons in England and Wales recorded 282 incidents during 2015 – more than five a week – as they struggled to cope with growing numbers of prisoners, chronic overcrowding and deep staff cuts.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the
Howard League for Penal Reform, said:
“The Prime Minister has recognised that
prisons are failing and that wholesale reform is needed. But simply trying to
build a way out of the problem will not work and would mean years of disorder,
violence and people dying while we wait for new prisons to be built. Evidence
shows that building additional prisons only compounds overcrowding and its
consequent problems as the courts send more people to prison every day. We
cannot go on cramming more people into jails without any thought for the safety
of staff, prisoners and the public.”
Howard
League for Penal Reform: media release 24th March 2016
.........................................................................................................................................................
Page 3: "The flyer
THE
IPP SENTENCE:
WHY
PROTEST
What
is the IPP?
IPP stands for Imprisonment for
Public Protection.
This type of
sentence was first used in 2005. They were designed to protect the public from
serious offenders whose crimes did not merit a life sentence. IPP offenders
have to serve a minimum term (tariff) which is set by the court, and then they
have to appear before a Parole Board to prove that they are no longer
dangerous, before they can be released.
That’s a good thing,
right?
·
WRONG!
Why is that?
·
Firstly, many prisoners on IPPs have not committed
the kind of crimes for which IPPs were designed, but less serious ones.
·
Secondly, there was inconsistency in sentencing
even for serious crimes – some prisoners who have committed identical crimes
are IPP prisoners, some are not. This is clearly unjust.
·
Thirdly, IPP prisoners have “indeterminate”
sentences, which means that they never know exactly when they will be released,
unlike normal prisoners. The effect of living under this level of stress and
uncertainty means that IPP prisoners are significantly more likely to suffer
mental health issues than other prisoners. Research indicates that they may be
twice as likely to suffer such issues.
·
Fourthly, many of the courses which IPP prisoners
are required to complete before they have any chance of being released, are not
easily available. Not all prisons provide them, and / or there is a long
waiting list for many courses. Through no fault of their own, therefore, many
IPP prisoners are unable to “prove” that they are no longer a danger.
·
Fifthly, IPP prisoners, even if released, are on
licence for at least 10 years, and can be recalled to prison for something very
minor, even not keeping an appointment, for example. They are never allowed to
put their crime behind them, because their licence can be extended
indefinitely.
So is anything being
done about this?
The government abolished the IPP
sentence on December 3rd 2012, so no more could be imposed after
that. However, it did nothing at all about the 5-6000 prisoners still serving
IPP sentences, and has consistently refused to tackle the problem,
saying that more and more IPP prisoners are now being released.
Unfortunately, the
Parole Board has such a backlog of cases to be heard that according to the
MOJ’s own figures, it will take about 9 years
at the present rate, for all IPP prisoners to be released (currently around 4,700
in all) – by then all will be over their tariff.
In 2012 the European
Court of Human Rights ruled that indeterminate sentences breached prisoners’
human rights, because of the fact that rehabilitative courses were not being
made available even after the tariff had been served, yet still the situation
has not improved.
What are the
alternatives?
Allow those already over
their tariff to be released. The law already provides for long licence periods
for ordinary prisoners who need close monitoring on release, by “extended”
sentences. These could be applied to IPP
prisoners.
GIVE IPP PRISONERS A DEFINITE RELEASE DATE.
END THE INJUSTICE.
............................................................................................................................................................
Page 4
We have
public procession BLUE AREA ONLY
25th May we are
lobbying in Parliament 11 -2pm.If you find yourself finished earlier than other
families and you are waiting around for the 2pm march to the Ministry of
Justice, we have permission to demonstrate outside Parliament Square, in the blue
area shown on the map. From 2pm we march to the MOJ of justice, Email from:
Westminster police.
The
blue area is the location where you can stand.
Page 5
We have public procession
Page 6
IPP Protest
and Lobby - in Central Lobby-Parliament 11am to 2pm then We march a short
distance to the Ministry of Justice ending at 3pm.http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/central-lobby-tour/
Are children allowed?
Children are allowed. If you get there for the beginning the Speaker always says hello to the children. https://www.writetothem.com/
It is your right to ask your MP to lobby for your son / daughter / other ...in Parliament! Invite your MP to meet with you on the day of the demonstration /march because of the difficulties faced with this IPP sentence. If your MP cannot come this day, you can still ask him / her to lobby for you.
Are children allowed?
Children are allowed. If you get there for the beginning the Speaker always says hello to the children. https://www.writetothem.com/
It is your right to ask your MP to lobby for your son / daughter / other ...in Parliament! Invite your MP to meet with you on the day of the demonstration /march because of the difficulties faced with this IPP sentence. If your MP cannot come this day, you can still ask him / her to lobby for you.
Coverage and Attendees at this stage:
*There is usually a TV crew there every day so could help
get coverage of your fight
* Inside Times Newspaper will be attending covering the IPP
Lobby.
* BBC 1 will be there reason for a documentary
* BBC 4
--MPs, Not all have been highlighted:
* Gavin Shuker Labour and Cooperative MP for Luton South.
* David Evennett Conservative MP, Bexleyheath and Crayford .
* David Ramsbotham
* MP Richard Fuller
* Oliver Letwin Conservative MP for Dorchester
*Daniel Zeichner
Mp for Cambridge
* Stephen MC Partland
* Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform,Frances Crook.
* Stephen MC Partland
* Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform,Frances Crook.
25th MAY MPs have go into the chamber to vote on urgent
matters 650 (all of them) as Prime Ministers Ques. The house sits at 11.30 and
Parliament question time is at 12.30 .
We lobby from
1) 11.30 to 1pm
2) Toilet & coffee break
l3) Leaving AT 2PM from Parliament to march to the Ministry
of Justice ending at 3pm onward ......at the Ministry of Justice.........
Be visible wear LORDS costume, T shirts, print on them bring
banners, flyers add IPP links that the public can read about the IPP in their
own time. http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/mens-tudor-costume.
The IPP has been one of the biggest messes in British
"you must fight back""
Lobby to change the law: fight to get
them home!
We would like to see
all the family friends and supporters there on the day. However if for any
reason (it would have to be a good reason) you cannot to be there to support
your own, you can still ask your MP to lobby on your behalf for the 25th
as can inmates. Just tweak the template. It’s your right as your MP’s
constituent to lobby for you regardless of the crime; it is the sentence we are
fighting. You don’t even have to mention the offence. Keep your MP informed:
send him the notes
CENTRAL LOBBY?
You are there to lobby MPs
WHAT CAN YOU DO AND NOT DO IN CENTRAL LOBBY?
Not allowed: large bags, Load speakers, shouting.
YOU CAN LEAVE BELONGINGS?
in the cloakroom facilities at Methodist Central Hall - which is in
Storey's Gate SW1, a short walk from Parliament.
*""""""Wear noticeable Costumes bright
T-shirts with printed messages, flyers etc
At Central Lobby, you will enter through what is known as the St
Stephens entrance to the Commons. Stewards will be available to help you.
Before you queue for the security check, inform a police officer that you have
a meeting arranged with your MP and show them any correspondence to this effect
if your MP has sent it to you.
This should allow you to go straight into the security checking area
without queuing with the general public for tours of Parliament. Your MP or
their staff will usually come to meet you in Central Lobby.
You need to go to the desk in
Central Lobby and ask the attendants to telephone your MP\'s office. Remember
you will have to go through 'airport type' security to gain access to
Parliament – on a busy day this can take at least 15 minutes - and you may need
to queue until there is space. NB you cannot take large bags into the Palace,
and ideally you should take as little as possible in with you as this will speed
up the process.
We will arrange cloakroom facilities at Methodist Central Hall - which
is in Storey's Gate SW1, a short walk from Parliament.
What if you don't have an arranged meeting with your MP?
If your MP has agreed to meet you, but not given you any details of
where and when, or if you have not already arranged a meeting with your MP, you
will need to queue outside St Stephen's entrance.
The police will only allow 100 people, including lobbyists and other
visitors, into Central Lobby at any one time. Pass through the security check
and proceed to Central Lobby in due course.
Once in Central Lobby?
Once in Central Lobby go to the desk and ask for a green card which is a
request for your MP to come and meet you. This should be filled in and returned
as directed. It is important that on the card you make a clear statement as to
your reason for visiting such as 'to discuss THE IPP: IN PARTICULAR ITS IMPACT
ON …………………………..
This is very important because, if you do not manage to meet with your MP,
the card will then be sent on to him or her. The MP should then respond
directly to you in due course - clearly the more he or she knows about why you
were at Westminster the better. The desk staff will take the card and officials
will be asked to look for your MP and let him or her know that you are asking
to meet with them. While you should wait around for a while, do not forget that
lobbyists with firm commitments to meet their MP will be waiting to get in so
you should be prepared to give up waiting after 20 minutes or so.
Disabled access If you are disabled, telephone the
Serjeant-at-Arms' office at the House of Commons, who will advise you
procedures for entering the building (phone 0207 219 1000 and ask the
switchboard officer to put you through to the Serjeant's office), The
Serjeant's office do allow some parking where it is required by disabled
people, but individuals will need to verify this with the office.
It is usual for one of your MP’s staff to accompany you once you enter
the building. You will need to arrange this with your MP in advance. Please
notify your union if you have any special ambulatory needs or require any
assistance.
Meeting with your MP It is best to be as brief, clear. In particular
have in mind what you actually wish your MP to do. If they send their
researcher instead, treat them in the same way. There is a model letter you can
use to tell your MP that you will be coming to London and ask to meet you. It
is also worth giving your MP your mobile number, if you have one. This may help
them track you down on the day.
You should thank him or her for taking the time to see you, establish
how much time they have, have ready two or three points to make (give them a
local dimension where possible) and most importantly ask them to follow up the
meeting: * by raising your points with relevant ministers in writing and
conversation * signing Early Day Motion MPs can sign to express support for the
lobby it reads:
..
Give to your Mp, point out to media /public.
Point out that:-
- Whilst it is true that the number of prisoners released increased by 22% between 2015 and 2014, in the previous year the numbers released fell by 11%.
- As at 31 March 2016, 81% of IPP prisoners are over tariff, compared to 75% the previous year.
- 60% (2498) of IPP prisoners have tariffs of 4 years and under (all except 18 of which are over tariff) and IPP sentenced now would not even attract an Extended Determinate Sentence which was introduced to replace the IPP following LASPO Act 2012.
- The numbers of IPPs in prison on recall is increasing significantly. On 31 March 2016 there were 565 people on recall in addition to the 4133 prisoners not yet released.
- There is currently no data on how long IPP prisoners spend on recall.
- In 2015 whilst 512 IPPs were released from prison a total of 344 were recalled back to prison.
- In 2015, the MoJ has started to include Foreign National releases/deportations in its statistics. These prisoners do not go before a Parole Board and are released automatically at the end of their tariff if they are suitable for immediate deportation.
- Whilst it is true that the number of prisoners released increased by 22% between 2015 and 2014, in the previous year the numbers released fell by 11%.
- As at 31 March 2016, 81% of IPP prisoners are over tariff, compared to 75% the previous year.
- 60% (2498) of IPP prisoners have tariffs of 4 years and under (all except 18 of which are over tariff) and IPP sentenced now would not even attract an Extended Determinate Sentence which was introduced to replace the IPP following LASPO Act 2012.
- The numbers of IPPs in prison on recall is increasing significantly. On 31 March 2016 there were 565 people on recall in addition to the 4133 prisoners not yet released.
- There is currently no data on how long IPP prisoners spend on recall.
- In 2015 whilst 512 IPPs were released from prison a total of 344 were recalled back to prison.
- In 2015, the MoJ has started to include Foreign National releases/deportations in its statistics. These prisoners do not go before a Parole Board and are released automatically at the end of their tariff if they are suitable for immediate deportation.
....................................................................................................................
From Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom
To Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ, United Kingdom.7 min
(0.4 mi) via A302 and Tothill St
Walk north on St Margaret St/A3212, Turn left onto Broad
Sanctuary/A302, Turn right onto Storey's Gate Continue to follow A302. Turn
left onto Tothill St Continue onto Broadway, At the roundabout, take the 1st
exit onto Petty France,
Ministry of Justice102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ, United
Kingdom
SIGNITURES
REQURIED
You can grow your campaign by collecting signatures
on the day of the Lobby /March where people gather. Use our printable petition
form to collect signatures, and then come back to this site to quickly enter
the signatures that you gather. By adding the offline signatures you collect to
the site you'll be able to reach those , grow your total, and easily deliver
the signatures to your target.
Once you have collected add electronically here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/…/free-the-rema…/manage/offline,
Once you have collected add electronically here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/…/free-the-rema…/manage/offline,
you can post or Email:
emailtheteam@38degrees.org.ukSend a letter: 38 Degrees, Room 134, 40 Bowling
Green Lane, London, EC1R 0NE Phone: 0207 970 6023 (9am – 6pm, Monday to
Friday)For media enquiries only: please call the 38 Degrees media spokesperson
on 020 3290 1407Facebook: facebook.com/peoplepowerchange Twitter: @38_degrees
katherinegleeson@aol.com
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