Howard League responds to government’s rejection of Justice Committee’s IPP recommendations

The Howard League for Penal Reform has today (Thursday 9 February) responded to the government’s rejection of key recommendations from the Justice Committee’s inquiry into sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPPs).

Now labelled “immoral”, “unequal and unjust” by those who conceived it, the IPP sentence continues to devastate lives, 10 years after its abolition. Almost 3,000 people who were given IPP sentences are still in prison today, with no sense of if or when they will be released.

The Justice Committee’s report of its inquiry, published in September 2022, found IPP sentences to be irredeemably flawed and called for all people who are subject to them to be resentenced. The committee also recommended halving – from 10 years to five – the time period following release after which licence termination can be considered.

Today, the Government has stripped hope from thousands of people by rejecting these recommendations.

Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “The Justice Committee’s sensible and practical recommendations deserved more than this pitiful response from the government. Thousands of families have been torn apart by the IPP scandal; ministers have given them nothing.

“Each week, the Howard League receives letters from IPP prisoners. The most recent was from a man who was recommended to serve two-and-half years but remains stuck inside 16 years later.

“Many of those who write to me say that they feel forgotten. I think this response shows that they are not forgotten – the decision has been taken to keep them in prison indefinitely. A decision has been taken to extend their suffering.

“The Howard League will continue to fight to end this injustice.”