More than 12 years have passed since the sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) was abolished by Parliament – but it continues to cause injustice and despair.
In the seven years between 2005, when IPP sentences were imposed for the first time, and 2012, when they were abolished, they were handed down to more than 8,700 people – almost 10 times as many as the government had estimated.
But when IPP sentences were abolished under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment Act 2012, they were not scrapped retrospectively, meaning that they continued to apply to people who were serving them at the time.
Official figures show that, at the end of 2024, there were 2,614 people serving IPP sentences in prison.
The Howard League has convened an expert working group, led by the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, to look for ways to tackle this problem. This Spotlights event will consider the working group’s recommendations and the steps that ministers could take to end the IPP scandal once and for all.
This online event will be hosted by our Chief Executive, Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.). The panel will include:
- Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.
- More to be announced.
Book your place for this free event, on Wednesday 2 July, 1pm to 2.15pm, online via Zoom webinar.
For anyone who cannot make it, this event will be recorded and made available on our YouTube channel.
About the Howard League Spotlights series
Howard League Spotlights is a series of events aimed at lifting the lid on prisons and finding more effective ways to reduce crime. Each event focuses on a particular theme and brings together experts to approach the issue from different perspectives. Spotlights events are free of charge, but if you would like to support our work, please consider becoming a Howard League member.
-
Join the Howard League
We are the world's oldest prison charity, bringing people together to advocate for change.
Join us and make your voice heard -
Support our work
We safeguard our independence and do not accept any funding from government.
Make a donation