Thousands of prisoners in the UK remain trapped in a legal nightmare due to the controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, despite the scheme being officially abolished over a decade ago. Campaigners are now demanding urgent action from the government to address this injustice.
What Are IPP Sentences?
Introduced in 2005, IPP sentences were designed to detain offenders deemed 'dangerous' indefinitely, even for minor crimes. Though scrapped in 2012, the policy was not applied retroactively, leaving over 2,900 individuals still behind bars without a clear release date.
The Human Cost
Advocates argue that IPP sentences have caused severe psychological harm, with many prisoners struggling with hopelessness and deteriorating mental health. Families of those affected describe the system as 'cruel and inhumane.'
Growing Pressure for Change
Legal experts and reform groups are calling for:
- Retroactive abolition: Applying the 2012 repeal to all existing IPP cases.
- Improved rehabilitation: Better support for prisoners to meet parole conditions.
- Parole reform: Fairer assessments to prevent endless delays in release.
With mounting public and political pressure, the government faces a critical decision: uphold a broken system or take meaningful steps toward justice.
