Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resolve the scandal of indefinite jail terms, warning that prisoners are 'trapped in the system'. Jones urged ministers to consider new proposals to help nearly 2,500 inmates still serving imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, which were abolished in 2012 but not applied retrospectively.
Jones, who previously led the Parole Board for nine years, told The Independent that IPP prisoners continue to be failed by the system. He said the government faces a stark choice between allowing these prisoners to languish—potentially resulting in many deaths in custody—or taking action to rectify what has long been described as a stain on the justice system.
The IPP sentence, described as 'psychological torture' by the UN, was scrapped over a decade ago, but those already sentenced remain incarcerated indefinitely. Victims include Leroy Douglas, who has served nearly 20 years for robbing a mobile phone, and Thomas White, who set himself alight in his cell after 13 years for stealing a phone. At current release rates, the number of IPP prisoners is decreasing by less than 10% annually, with some serving up to 22 times longer than their original tariff.
Jones backed proposals from the Howard League for Penal Reform and former lord chief justice John Thomas, which include giving IPP prisoners a release date within two years of their next parole review, reducing recalls for licence breaches, and providing mental health support on release. He agreed that without action, some prisoners will die in custody, noting that at least 94 have taken their own lives while imprisoned.
Jones also supported recommendations for judicial oversight of recall decisions, which are currently made solely by probation workers. He highlighted that IPP prisoners recalled to custody serve an average of 25 months before re-release, a period equivalent to a four-year sentence—longer than magistrates' courts can impose. 'I think there is considerable merit to having some judicial oversight,' he said, adding that many other countries require judges or parole boards to make such decisions.
