Earlier this month, Lord Timpson wrote to our Director, Richard Garside, with an update on the Government’s approach to the ongoing Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) scandal.
Highlighting the government’s plans to implement changes to the IPP under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, he wrote:
I recognise the challenges faced by those serving IPP sentences and reaffirm my commitment to making progress. It is right that IPP sentences were abolished, and this government is committed to supporting those still serving them to move towards a safe and sustainable release.
Key measures include:
- Reducing the time for referral to the Parole Board for IPP licence termination from 10 years to 3 years (or 2 years for those sentenced as minors).
- A statutory presumption that the Parole Board will terminate an IPP licence unless there are strong public safety concerns.
- Automatic licence termination two years after the qualifying period if the licence isn’t terminated earlier and the offender hasn’t been recalled to prison.
- The Secretary of State can release recalled IPP offenders through a new process called Risk Assessed Recall Review (RARR).
- The Secretary of State can ignore a recall during the two-year period if it's in the interests of justice, allowing the offender's licence to continue without resetting the two-year period.
- Annual reporting on IPP and DPP offenders’ rehabilitation progress.
These measures are due to begin on November 1, 2024, Lord Timpson wrote, phasing in fully by February 2025. Around 1,800 individuals under post-release supervision in the community are expected to see their supervision end, following implementation, with 600 cases being referred to the Parole Board in 2025.
We will be keeping an eye on the implementation of these new measures, while also supporting Lord Woodley’s Private Members’ Bill, on the resentencing of all those currently under and IPP.
You can download Lord Timpson’s letter here.
