Kit Malthouse and Parole Board leadership questioned in IPP sentences inquiry
The Justice Committee will question Kit Malthouse, the Minister responsible for probation and public protection, on the issues surrounding the indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP). The Committee will also be hearing from the Chair and Chief Executive of the Parole Board, which determines whether prisoners, including those on IPP sentences, can safely be released into the community.
Over 3,000 people are in prison on an IPP sentence, despite the abolition of the sentence in 2012. Most of those imprisoned on an IPP sentence have been in prison for a significant amount of time beyond the minimum term set by the courts. The sentence has no end date which means prisoners do not know when they will be released. Those who are released may spend the rest of their life on licence in the community. In the previous session of the inquiry, Lord Blunkett, who originally introduced the sentence in his role as Home Secretary, called for urgent measures to address the issue of the growing number of people being recalled to prison under their IPP sentence. The first hearing heard how the sentence contributed to prisoners becoming mentally ill and feeling like there was “no hope”.
Likely areas of questioning
In this session, the Committee will probe the Minister on how the sentence can be reformed, including the different policy and legislative solutions heard during the inquiry. The Committee will also explore with the Parole Board what more can be done through the parole process to support IPP prisoners in seeking release, while balancing the need to protect the public.