World News
Andy Burnham pledges to end indefinite IPP jail sentences by end of parliament
The government plans to introduce legislation to resolve the status of offenders still held or monitored under Imprisonment for Public Protection terms abolished in 2012.
The short version
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to end Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences during the current parliament.
- IPP sentences, introduced in 2005, set minimum prison tariffs without maximum limits and were abolished in 2012 without being made retrospective.
- Campaigners welcomed the commitment but urged the government to ensure swift implementation along with community and mental health support.
- The government plans to set up a cross-party oversight group to address ongoing public safety and national security concerns.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the government will bring forward legislation by the end of the current parliament to end Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences.[The Guardian]
- Introduced in 2005, IPP sentences provided offenders with a minimum prison tariff but no maximum term, leaving some individuals in custody or on licence indefinitely.[The Guardian]
- IPP sentences were scrapped in 2012, but the abolition was not applied retrospectively to those already sentenced.[The Guardian]
- Under the current system, released IPP offenders are only eligible to have their licence conditions removed after 10 years.[The Guardian]
- Burnham stated that a cross-party oversight group will be formed to help manage public safety and national security issues related to the release and management of affected individuals.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The precise timeline and specific legislative mechanisms for terminating the IPP sentences have not yet been detailed beyond taking place before the end of the current parliament.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Andy Burnham pledge to end indefinite jail terms ‘a step towards healing’The Guardian - World