We were one of 70 organisations and individuals that last week sent a joint letter to the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood MP, calling for the new Labour government to resolve the IPP scandal once and for all.
On Thursday, 11th July, the joint letter was hand-delivered to the Ministry of Justice by three IPP campaigners, Roddy Russell, Marc Conway and Andrew Morris. It was also emailed to the Secretary of State’s private office.
Addressed to the new Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the letter urged the prioritisation of meaningful reform of the IPP sentence within the first 100 days of the new parliament. Specifically, it called for the implementation of the outstanding provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.
The letter garnered support from some 70 signatories and received extensive media coverage.
- ITV: https://www.itv.com/news/2024-07-11/catastrophic-prison-overcrowding-em…
- ITV: https://www.itv.com/watch/news/uks-prison-problem-starmer-urged-to-act-…
- BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clwyr3jylxeo
- BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/czrjkg21ywjt?post=asset%3A12891afd-7ea1…;
- Sky News: https://news.sky.com/story/they-cant-wait-any-longer-families-say-labou…
- The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-prison-overcrowding-cri…
- City AM: https://www.cityam.com/freeing-britains-ghost-prisoners-should-be-first…
- South London Press: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/coalition-demands-new-government-im…
- Tortoise Media Newsletter: https://newsroom.tortoisemedia.com/cr/AQjcjBUQnvQTGOKTkhk3sgsMdkLP_Nfpy…
- Tortoise Media: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/07/10/labours-prison-crisis-one-of-t…
- Morning Star: https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/ending-inhumane-ipp-sentences-w…;
- The Justice Gap: https://www.thejusticegap.com/open-letter-calls-for-the-labour-governme…
- Solicitors Journal: https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sjarticle/open-letter-calls-on-labour…
The need for IPP reform continues to be raised in parliament, including just yesterday by two MPs in the House of Commons:
- Bambos Charalambous MP: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c6f1dc98-735b-456b-9e60-bbb16d4ef…
- Melanie Onn MP: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c6f1dc98-735b-456b-9e60-bbb16d4ef…
The Labour peer, Lord Woodley, is also introducing a Private Members’ Bill on the resentencing of those under an IPP sentence, on September 4: https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/july/lords-private-members…
