The Endless Detention of the Forgotten Few

The Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) scandal has left a trail of devastation in its wake, a stark reminder that even in the most seemingly just systems, injustice can thrive. Amy-Clare Martin’s three-year investigation into the IPP sentences has shone a light on a grave crisis that has been festering for far too long.

The statistics are staggering: 96 prisoners have taken their own lives in custody while serving these “throw away the key” sentences. The most recent spike, which saw seven men take their lives after being denied release by Dominic Raab’s government, is a haunting testament to the toxic legacy of the IPP.

At its core, the IPP scandal is one of arbitrary detention. Prisoners are being punished long after their crime has been served. Eight in ten prisoners serving IPP sentences have been locked up for at least 10 years longer than their minimum tariff, leaving families torn apart by the uncertainty and limbo of the system.

The IPP’s “goalposts” seem to shift with each new hearing, forcing prisoners to jump through an endless series of hoops in pursuit of release. When they fail – as many inevitably do – it is not just their mental health that suffers but also their dignity. The arbitrary use of detention as a means to justify longer sentences has been widely condemned, including by the United Nations.

Andy Burnham has promised meaningful change, but will it be enough? A clear starting point would be to address those IPP prisoners who have been recalled indefinitely for minor infractions – an average of two years per “slip-up.” It is cruel to ignore these over-tariff prisoners when the prison overcrowding crisis demands early release.

The road ahead will be complex, with over 800 prisoners never having left their cells and 200 in secure hospitals requiring individual review. However, what’s clear is that this can no longer be put off. The government must act now to draw a line under this failed sentencing experiment.

The IPP scandal has revealed the darkest corners of our justice system, but it also presents an opportunity for reform. Can we balance public safety with fairness and justice? It seems a simple question, yet one that has confounded lawmakers for far too long. In a country where rehabilitation is touted as a key goal, the persistence of these “throw away the key” sentences is a glaring contradiction.

The time to correct this injustice is now.