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A stark new report presented to the United Nations has outlined the dire situation faced by prisoners subjected to the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences in the UK, branding the system as a mechanism of “excessive punishment” that amounts to inhumane treatment. The document, prepared by prominent legal expert Dr Felicity Gerry KC, specifically highlights the plight of eight individuals who have endured indefinite incarceration under these controversial sentences, calling for immediate reform or abolition of the system.
Systematic Injustice Highlighted
The 44-page submission to Dr Alice Gill Edwards, the UN’s special rapporteur on torture, makes a compelling case against the enduring nature of IPP sentences, which were officially abolished in 2012 but remain in effect for those already sentenced. Dr Gerry urges for an urgent review of these cases, arguing that many inmates are trapped in a “never-ending carousel” of punishment, with an average of 516 per cent of their minimum terms served.
Among those highlighted is Thomas White, who has spent nearly 14 years behind bars for a robbery involving a mobile phone. Following a significant decline in his mental health while incarcerated, he tragically attempted to take his own life. The report claims that such instances are not isolated, citing nearly 100 suicides linked to the IPP system.
The Flawed Foundation of IPP Sentences
The report argues that the rationale of protecting the public has been misapplied, asserting that the very system designed to safeguard society is instead perpetuating harm. “The UK cannot hypocritically stand against despotic regimes when its own systems are so dystopian,” Dr Gerry states. This sentiment echoes the growing frustration among advocacy groups who have long decried the IPP framework as fundamentally flawed.
David Blunkett, the architect of the IPP sentences during Tony Blair’s Labour government, has expressed regret over the introduction of such punitive measures, conceding that they constitute his “biggest regret.” As of December 2025, nearly 2,400 individuals remained incarcerated under IPP sentences, with 924 having never been released, many serving over a decade beyond their original minimum terms.
The Cycle of Recidivism
Following release, many former IPP prisoners find themselves ensnared in a vicious cycle, constantly at risk of being recalled to prison for minor infractions of their licence conditions. The report underscores that the lack of a retrospective abolition of the IPP sentences has left thousands in a legal limbo, where their futures remain uncertain.
In 2022, a cross-party justice committee inquiry described the IPP sentences as “irredeemably flawed” and called for a complete resentencing of those affected. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence of systemic failings, successive governments have resisted implementing changes, leaving many prisoners in a state of despair.
Psychological Toll on Prisoners
Dr Gerry’s submission indicates that the psychological ramifications of prolonged incarceration under IPP sentences are profound. Many inmates experience “acute and enduring psychological suffering” that far exceeds any legitimate punitive objectives. This suffering, exacerbated by histories of trauma and mental health issues, significantly impairs their ability to meet the Parole Board’s criteria for release.
The report particularly notes that vulnerable prisoners are disproportionately affected, with those who are neurodiverse often finding it difficult to access necessary rehabilitation programmes. The result is a systemic bind where their potential for rehabilitation is stifled by a rigid assessment of perceived dangerousness—an assessment that the Parole Board is powerless to challenge.
Government Response and Ongoing Investigations
In response to the damning findings, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice stated that the abolition of IPP sentences was a positive step forward. They highlighted that efforts are underway to support these offenders in reintegrating into society, including legislative changes aimed at expediting licence terminations for those serving in the community. They noted a recent 30% reduction in the population of never-released IPP prisoners since April 2023, although many remaining inmates have been repeatedly classified as too dangerous for release.
As a separate inquiry into five additional IPP prisoners is underway with the UN’s working group on arbitrary detention, the implications of these findings could have far-reaching consequences for the UK’s criminal justice system. Any determination of degrading treatment or arbitrary detention could cast a long shadow over the Ministry of Justice’s handling of this ongoing crisis.
Why it Matters
The findings of this report represent a critical juncture in the discourse surrounding the UK’s criminal justice policies, particularly regarding the treatment of vulnerable populations within the prison system. With the potential for international scrutiny from the UN, the UK must confront its record on human rights and re-evaluate its approach to sentencing. The plight of IPP prisoners serves as a reminder of the urgent need for reform in a system that, as described, inflicts not just punishment but profound psychological harm—a reality that should alarm all who value justice and human dignity.
