Andy Burnham has announced that the government will bring forward legislation to end Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences by the end of this Parliament. According to the BBC, Mr Burnham stated that he took a common-sense approach to the open-ended sentences due to long-standing concerns, noting that people who have served their time are not being released while individuals who committed very serious crimes are being released early. The Justice Secretary will announce the plans to Parliament on Tuesday, bringing a potential end to a sentencing regime that left thousands of prisoners without a release date.
Background and Scope of the IPP Scandal
The IPP sentencing regime was introduced under New Labour in a bid to be tough on crime and was outlawed in 2012, though that abolition was not retrospective. According to campaign groups and official figures, the open-ended terms were handed to many repeat offenders even for minor crimes, leaving thousands languishing behind bars with some serving up to 22 times longer than their original tariffs. At the time of the announcement, almost 2,300 IPP prisoners remained trapped under the sentence, including more than 800 who had never been released. Data cited by reform advocates indicate that eight in ten of those never freed have served at least ten years past their original minimum tariff.
Did You Know? The open-ended IPP sentences were outlawed in 2012, but because the change was not retrospective, thousands of individuals remained confined indefinitely without a scheduled release date for more than a decade.
Reactions from Campaigners and Legal Reform Groups
Campaigners and families of IPP prisoners welcomed the prime minister’s commitment while highlighting the heavy toll exacted by the sentences. Shirley Debono, co-founder of IPP Committee in Action whose son Shaun Lloyd has been recalled five times, told reporters she was absolutely overwhelmed to hear a prime minister state that people will no longer be trapped indefinitely. Marc Conway, CEO of the reform group UNGRIPP, described the announcement as a day thousands of families spent years fighting for, though he noted it comes with heavy hearts for those who did not live to see it. Tragically, 96 IPP prisoners took their own lives after losing hope of release, including Tommy Nicol, who died in 2015 at age 37 after describing his sentence as psychological torture.
Expert Insight: While legislative termination marks a critical step for thousands of long-overdue prisoners, legal analysts and reform advocates emphasize that the transition will require comprehensive community, housing, and mental health support to address decades of institutional trauma and ensure successful reintegration off license.
Political Response and Implementation Challenges
Political figures offered mixed reactions to the unfolding policy shift. Labour MP Kim Johnson called the announcement a huge moment for families, while former shadow chancellor John McDonnell described it as a significant breakthrough against a grotesque injustice. Conversely, shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy raised serious questions on social media about the government’s proposals, asking whether all IPP prisoners will be released, on what timescale, and how the state will handle individuals who might have otherwise received life sentences. The government plans to establish a cross-party oversight group and take a careful approach to drafting the legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IPP sentence?
Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences were indeterminate jail terms introduced in 2005 that set a minimum tariff but no maximum release date, designed for offenders perceived as a risk to the public.
When will the IPP sentences officially end?
Andy Burnham stated that the government will table legislation to terminate the sentences by the end of this Parliament, with the Justice Secretary set to provide further details to Parliament on Tuesday.
How many IPP prisoners are still in custody?
There are almost 2,300 IPP prisoners still trapped on the jail term, including more than 800 individuals who have never been released.
What specific support services do you believe are most essential for individuals transitioning out of custody after serving decades on indefinite sentences?
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