Trauma of IPP sentences revealed in new documentary

 A new Radio 4 documentary has provided an insight into the devastating effects of controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences.

Roddy Russell explores the impact of IPP sentences on those serving them and their loved ones, as well as the current political deadlock over their continuing usage.

Roddy’s brother was sentenced for making a threat to kill with an initial tariff of 2.5 years. He has now been in custody for fourteen years, and there is still no end in sight.

Other contributors described the difficulty of supporting family members serving IPP sentences, including Cherrie Nichol, whose brother is now sixteen years over his initial tariff. She said the whole family is traumatised, and her brother ‘is just so broken’.

Many of those interviewed said that their loved ones serving IPP sentences were being given conditions for progression that they weren’t able to meet, on account of the devastating psychological impact that serving an IPP sentence was having on them.

They said those serving IPPs were being told to complete progressive courses in order to meet conditions for release, but that these weren’t even available in their prison.

In the documentary it was revealed that former Labour Home Secretary Lord Blunkett had called Roddy Russell and apologised for his role in the creation of IPP sentences. Speaking on the documentary Lord Blunkett said the ‘tragic situation’ facing IPP prisoners is that ‘the longer they are in prison without hope, the more their mental health and general deterioration makes it even more difficult for the parole board to release them’. He has previously called the sentences ‘a disaster’.

Last week a man serving an IPP sentence at HMP Manchester scaled the outside of the prison and daubed ‘Free IPPZ’ on the roof, believed to be a reference to IPP sentences. He remained there for twelve hours.

The government released their reaction to a Justice Select Committee report into IPP sentences in February, but refused to enact the primary recommendation, re-sentencing all IPP prisoners. The Ministry of Justice said: ‘The Government’s long-held view is that this (re sentencing) would give rise to an unacceptable risk to public protection and that the IPP Action Plan, suitably updated, remains the best option by which these offenders can progress towards safe release’.

The introduction of IPP sentences was intended to apply to around 900 offenders who posed a danger to the public but whose crimes didn’t warrant a life sentence. In all, almost 9,000 people were sentenced under IPP orders.

IPP sentences were abolished in 2012, but the change was not applied retrospectively. Those still serving indeterminate sentences had to continue to re-apply for parole. As of September 2022 there were 1,437 unreleased IPP prisoners in England and Wales, as well as 1,434 people who had served IPP sentences and been recalled to custody. As of that date, all but 43 of those IPP prisoners had passed their original tariff date.

COMMENTS:

Davis. 

My heart goes out to you. Don't give up on your brother and from what i have heard my hat goes of to you. I feel your pain and frustration i hope there is light at the end of the tunnel soon, i pray.

Asquith.

So sad listening to this, my condolences hopefully this year well over due, mainly the IPP Parole Board system changes (3.2.) Parole. The ability to re-open  and re- take parole decisions if they are fundamentally flawed or if new information comes to light has preciously  been possible but complex ed. This measure will clarify this position by putting it on a  clear legislative footing.

The measure,once delivered via a amendment to the Parole Board  rules will complement the existing recommendations mechanism by broadening the circumstances where  the secretary of state can take action prior to release in response to the very rare occasions where a parole decision is seriously flawed. They will be available even once a decision has become final after 21- days, and where new information comes to light which was not available to the Parole Board panel at the time of the orginal hearing.

The current system for setting and varying  licence conditions is complex and confusing for practitioners to apply correctly and the statutory provisions on responsibility for setting licence conditions are inconsistent across different determinate sentences types.  For instance, currently the Parole Board is always responsible for setting conditions for Extended Determinate Sentences (EDS)  and Sentences for Offender of Particular  Concern (SOPC).

There is no power for the Secretary of state to set a vary conditions and so even where parole is refused and the offenders are released automatically at the end of the custodial term, the conditions must still be set by the Parole Board. Once enacted, these provisions will mean that, regardless of the sentence type, where the Parole Board directs the initial  release then they will be responsible for setting and varying the licence conditions. And where a prisoner is released consecutively or automatically at the end of their custodial term by the Secretary of Date, with no Parole Board direction, responsible for the licence will fall to HMPPS.)  

Sam Anderson .

I can relate to this as I am feeling the same I can't see a light at the end of the tunnel wen I think of my son it's the same feeling I have when I think of my mum and sister who both passed away years ago how many of more lives will be taken before the people with the power end this nightmare I don't want to leave my children and grandchildren but I'm not sure if I can carry on with the future full of disappointment.

Gemma Keane.

Now  we are in  2023.  open the doors now...let them out and get it sorted they have been mess about too much  alreadystill  stuck talking about it...

Laurence Cumming. 

Unbelievable Injustice ....calls into question the English Justice System................Having read many IPP blogs and accounts, I am appalled that this is considered Justice in the UK. A breakthrough is needed!

Jenifer Bennett. 

My heart goes out to anyone suffering the injustice of an IPP sentence, the latest post, demonstrates how  much suffering is being caused.