The IPP sentence was introduced in England and Wales in 2005. It was intended for offenders considered ‘dangerous’ but whose offence did not merit a life sentence. In common with the life sentence it contains three elements. First, a ‘tariff’ that is a period of imprisonment judged to be a just dessert for the crime committed. Second, an unlimited time of detention until the person can prove that they are no longer a threat to the public. Finally, release under licence. Despite its eventual abolition in 2012, thousands of people in prison and the community remain subject to the sentence and it continues to have considerable and long-lasting effects. 

Campaigns on behalf of prisoners and ex-prisoners serving the Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) in England and Wales

Conversion: Convert each IPP sentence to a straight sentence, with a defined release date and license period (or a life sentence if the case merits it).

Sunset Clause: A ‘sunset clause’ is a maximum amount of time that a person who was given an IPP would be allowed to serve before they must be released.

Executive Release: This option would completely remove the IPP sentence from those thought to have received it most unjustly. This would be most likely to be those that received a tariff of under two years (because their crimes were less serious), who are still in prison.

Change the Release Test: Currently, the Parole Board must apply the ‘Risk Test’ to all people serving an IPP applying for release. They must prove that they are no longer a risk to society, which can be very difficult to do from prison. A proposed change to this test is that the burden should instead fall on the Parole Board to prove that the person is still a risk to society.

Shorten, and Reform, the License Period: Currently people serving an IPP can apply to have their license removed after 10 years in the community (although there is no guarantee of this happening). This option would reduce that period (most suggest 5 years). It would also involve other changes, such as requiring the Parole Board to approve recall to prison, and disallowing recall for minor license breaches.

End the IPP Sentence Upon Release: This option proposes that a person’s IPP sentence should be ended once they are released from prison. Any further offences by that person should be given a fresh sentence.

Justice: The IPP sentence should be abolished retrospectively, and every IPP should be resentenced according to the seriousness of their crime.

Reform: Whilst it continues to exist, the license portion of the IPP sentence should be reformed to make it fit for purpose.

Support: Every IPP should receive a full package of support, that reflects the damage caused by the sentence.

Read more: UNGRIPP, https://www.ungripp.com/