A man who served 20 years under an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence for a robbery conviction now faces deportation, highlighting the ongoing impact of the controversial sentencing policy. The IPP sentence, introduced in 2003 and abolished in 2012, allowed for indefinite detention beyond a minimum tariff, often for relatively minor offences.
According to a documentary titled 'Britain’s Forgotten Prisoners', which premiered at Sheffield DocFest, thousands of individuals remain in prison or under licence despite completing their minimum terms. The film focuses on the psychological toll and high rates of recall for minor breaches, such as being late for probation appointments.
One case featured is that of Shaun Lloyd, who was jailed for two years and nine months at age 18 for a mobile phone robbery in 2005. He has been released and recalled multiple times for drug use, and nearly 20 years later, he still faces the threat of recall. His mother, Shirley Debono, has campaigned for IPP reform for 15 years.
The documentary also highlights Ronnie Sinclair, who served 16 years for stealing a flower pot at age 17, and Greggor Grey, who served 19 years for a pub fight. Of the 8,711 people given IPP sentences, at least 90 have died by suicide, and 241 were detained in secure hospitals in 2023.
Despite the abolition of IPP sentences in 2012, almost 3,000 prisoners remain incarcerated under the policy, with no clear release date. The film argues that the sentence amounts to being 'buried alive' and calls for urgent reform to address the ongoing crisis.
