A long-awaited day for many on IPP sentences

Today, 1 November 2024, is a day that approximately 1,800 people serving the sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) have been waiting for.

Changes introduced under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, the first of which have now come into effect, mean that, if it has been at least five years since your first release from prison as a person serving the IPP sentence, and your licence has been in force continuously for the last two years, your licence (and sentence) ends immediately.

Similar rules apply if you are serving a parallel indeterminate sentence for children, known as the DPP: if it has already been four years since your first release from prison as a person serving that sentence, and your licence has been in force continuously for the last two years, your licence and sentence end today.

More changes are to come on 1 February 2025, when a further 600 people serving the IPP sentence are expected to become eligible immediately for a licence termination review by the Parole Board, seven (or eight years if serving a DPP) earlier than they would have under the old provisions.

The legislation is complex, which is why we have joined up with law firm Peters & Peters to provide a telephone hotline, giving confidential legal advice to people on IPP and DPP sentences, their families and friends, and professionals working with them.

Licence termination frees those serving IPP sentences from an indefinite cycle of recall and re-release. We want to make sure that as many people as possible understand their legal rights and the processes involved to bring an end to their licence as speedily as possible.

Our hotline began on 7 October and already we have taken more than 60 calls.

The hotline, which was praised this week in Parliament during a Westminster Hall debate on IPP sentences, began on 7 October and already we have taken more than 60 calls. Callers have included people in prison, those serving IPP sentences in the community, members of prison independent monitoring boards, family members, and a probation officer.

We have heard from a number of women, people serving the DPP sentence, and many people who are in prison after being recalled, including some who have been recalled several times. We have been able to help people by explaining how the changes will apply specifically to them. Many of the people we have spoken to will qualify for automatic licence termination today.

Alongside the hotline, we have produced a practical guide for those going through licence termination reviews, with tips for the best chance of success. This guide, which was developed in partnership with the Prison Reform Trust, the Prisoners’ Advice Service, and lawyer Dr Laura Janes, can be downloaded from our website.

Although the licence changes are welcome, they will do very little for the 1,100 people in prison on IPP sentences who have never been released or the 1,600 in custody after being recalled. IPP sentences were abolished 12 years ago, but not retrospectively, and the government needs to take meaningful action on this lingering injustice. Bringing an end to it is a strategic priority for the Howard League, and we will continue to campaign for change.

The hotline runs until 18 December, for four hours a week (Mondays 5pm–7pm and Wednesdays 1pm–3pm). The number to call is 01209 701888. People in prison will need to apply for it to go on their legal PIN. The changes are complex, so please call if you need advice.

Claire Salama
Managing Solicitor

Comments

• Lorraine Jackson says:

  22 Dec 2024 at 8:50 pm

  My son has served 18yrs for a 2&half Yr sentence the parole board and probation keep adding things on that he must do before release he’s done every course they’ve asked of him but still it’s not enough for them it’s cruel and inhumane keeping these prisoners locked up for what tha probation think they might do if released

  Reply
• Asma Begum says:

  3 Dec 2024 at 7:09 am

  Britain is still in the stone ages, we’re slow to move forward and slow to act on what has already been accepted as WRONG, how is it that David blunkett apologies about the IPP and it’s scrapped but still people are stuck inside prisons!
  You institutionalise people then blame them for being institutionalised! What does the government think will happen to people who have no hope to leave a prison sentence… an endless blind battle for themselves and their family. It’s inhumane. Murderers and rapists are going into prisons and coming out quicker than IPP sentenced prisoners!
  It’s not good enough to say we trust the parole system and they’ll do the best for these prisoners, they’re not! IPP prisoners should have left prison the day it was abolished!

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• Shirley Debono says:

  1 Nov 2024 at 11:48 pm

  We have to get the stats for “how many IPPs are in the CSC block”. The IPP sentence and the abuse by prison officers has made some IPP prisoners violent. This is also due to no rehabilitation. They need help not locking up like animals. The MOJ damaged them with this cruel sentence, the MOJ have to fix them. These are IPPs that did not committ the most serious crime when they got IPP.

  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Supervision_Centre

  Reply
  • Asma Begum says:

    3 Dec 2024 at 7:11 am

    Ipp prisoners should have given release the day it was abolished ! It is a very unfair and inhumane game they’re playing with these people and their families , it’s as if government doesn’t care because the numbers just aren’t large enough 🙁

    Reply