Despite the abolition of the Indeterminate Sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) a decade ago, hundreds of prisoners find themselves trapped in a flawed and outdated system.
Originally implemented in 2005 in England and Wales, the IPP was a sentence intended to detain individuals considered dangerous but ineligible for a life sentence.
However, the unintended consequences of this sentencing approach have left many prisoners languishing behind bars long after they have served their minimum terms.
For families of those serving IPP sentences, the frustration and despair are palpable.
They watch helplessly as their loved ones remain incarcerated indefinitely, waiting for the chance to prove they are no longer a threat to society.
Speaking to Mancunian Matters, family members and IPP prisoners alike expressed their anguish over a sentence that seems to punish individuals not for what they have done, but for what they might do in the future.
“At the age of 18, I was given a one year and 203 days IPP for the act of setting fire to a derelict house that was about to be demolished,” said Tony, 32.
“It was a foolish mistake caused by me hanging out with the wrong crowd and I never anticipated the long-lasting consequences that followed.
“I was unaware of the implications of the IPP at the time, and my solicitor didn’t provide me with a clear explanation.
“He strongly advised me to plead guilty, and naively, I believed I would serve only half the time.
“That one year and 203 days has turned into 10 years.
“I have had my sentence pushed back several times, one time by 15 months for missing my curfew by 30 minutes.
“I acknowledge what I did when I was a youth was dangerous and stupid, but does it really warrant 10 years and counting in prison?”
The indefinite nature of their sentences, combined with the frustration and uncertainty, can significantly impact the mental well-being of IPP detainees.
“The level of self-harm and suicides amongst IPP prisoners is alarming,” said Clara White, wife of a IPP detainee.
“Many of them have lost all sense of purpose and belief in their own rehabilitation.
“It’s a vicious cycle where the system fails to provide them with the tools and opportunities, they need to turn their lives around.
“I know of a male IPP who has had his leg amputated through years of self-harm and he’s not the only one – 81 IPPs have commit suicide since the sentence was introduced and they won’t be the only ones.”
The case of a prisoner’s rooftop protest at Strangeways prison in April, during which he defiantly wrote “FREE IPPZ,” shed light on the desperate situation faced by those serving IPP sentences.
The media attention generated by the protest brought the issue to the forefront, prompting a broader examination of the IPP system’s flaws.
According to data from the Justice Committee, approximately 3,000 people are currently incarcerated under the IPP sentence.
This staggering number raises questions about the effectiveness and fairness of a system that was meant to protect the public but now appears to be perpetuating injustice.
In response to mounting pressure, the government has pledged to address the issue and explore potential solutions, which has resulted in the ‘IPP Action Plan’ – a plan hoping to reduce the number of IPPs behind bars.
Speaking to MM, member of the House of Lords Lord Moylan said: “The lack of action over the last decade to regularise the situation of prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection is now widely recognised as a scandal and a stain on the British criminal justice system.
“Many IPP prisoners are ‘damaged people’ but tend to hide this damage because they know that if they admit to mental health problems, it will make it harder for them to get parole.
“The Justice Select Committee of the House of Commons deserves congratulations for its powerful report last year proposing action to bring this sorry episode to a close and it is a matter of regret that the Government has rejected its core recommendations.
“Whilst the current plan fails to acknowledge the injustice that is lying at the heart of this problem, new language from the Ministry of Justice referring to the sentence as an ‘iniquity’ is very welcomed.
“As suitable legislation comes forward, there will be opportunities for Parliamentarians to press the Government to rethink.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told MM: “We will ensure the plan delivers real change by reducing the IPP population both in custody and in the community whilst prioritising public protection.”
“We have already reduced the number of unreleased IPP prisoners by three-quarters since their abolition in 2012 and we are helping all those still in custody to progress towards release – with our renewed action plan putting further support in place for every prisoner on an IPP sentence.”
