UN Expert Calls for Urgent Review of IPP Sentences by New UK Government

IPP sentences were introduced in England and Wales between 2005 and 2012 for offenders deemed to pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public.

Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, has called on the newly elected UK Government to urgently review the sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners. Edwards emphasized the need to re-sentence the remaining IPP prisoners and to bring an end to the indeterminate sentencing system, which she describes as “inhuman treatment” and “psychological torture.”

IPP sentences were introduced in England and Wales between 2005 and 2012 for offenders deemed to pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public. However, the scheme resulted in many individuals serving indefinite sentences for relatively minor offenses. Although the IPP scheme was abolished in 2012, it was not made retrospective, leaving many prisoners to serve indeterminate sentences far beyond what would be typical for their offenses.

Current Situation and Urgent Need for Reform

Edwards noted that despite the new UK Government's commitment to addressing severe overcrowding in the criminal justice system and reducing sentences, recent emergency measures do not address the plight of those currently serving IPP sentences. Nearly 2,800 people remain in prison under IPP sentences, with an additional 200 in secure hospitals. The system has been criticized for causing severe mental distress, including incidents of self-harm and suicides.

Calls for Action

The Special Rapporteur highlighted that the 2022 Justice Committee report described the IPP system as “irredeemably flawed” and recommended a re-sentencing exercise for all IPP-sentenced individuals. The 2024 Victims and Prisoners Act included measures to begin addressing the issue, but Edwards urged the swift implementation of these measures.

Support for Reform

Edwards expressed her readiness to support the UK authorities in efforts to end IPP sentences, while ensuring that affected prisoners have access to rehabilitation and reparations. She underscored the importance of addressing this issue as a priority to prevent further psychological harm and to ensure justice for those affected by the IPP sentencing scheme.