Imprisonment for Public Protection 2025-11-11
2025-11-11
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The number of unreleased IPP prisoners fell to 946 as of September 2025, a reduction from the previous year. Terry Rowley received an IPP sentence in February 2008 and remains imprisoned despite completing his minimum tariff years ago.
My constituent, Terry Rowley, received an IPP sentence on 8 February 2008. His minimum tariff was set at one year and 126 days. That was 6,486 days ago—almost 18 years—and he remains in prison. No one disputes the seriousness of his offences, but the issue for Terry and his family is one of equal justice. Someone sentenced to the same crime today would not receive an IPP. Does the Secretary of State accept that this raises fundamental concerns about fairness and equality before the law for those serving under the IPP regime, and what steps will he take to fix it?
I recognise the challenges for Terry and his family. We are determined to support those in prison to progress towards safe and sustainable releases, but understandably that cannot be in a way that undermines public protection. We are not giving up on any individual serving an IPP sentence. We will ensure that each one gets the support and access to the risk education and risk reduction work that they need. I will ensure that Terry is receiving all the support he needs.
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Assessment & feedback
The response acknowledges the issue but does not provide specific steps to address fairness and equality concerns raised by IPP sentences.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows discussions about the challenges faced by those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences and seeks assurance on the effectiveness of current protocols regarding comprehensive risk assessments.
What is the Government’s assessment of the current protocols regarding the comprehensive risk assessments, and can the public be assured that the existing policies on IPP sentences are safeguarding the community effectively?
That is why we have to put public protection first and there has to be a robust risk assessment. We require the Parole Board in particular to make very sensitive assessments. People cannot leave prison unless we are confident that they will not go on to commit further crimes. That is the assessment we ask the Parole Board and others in the prison system to make.
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Assessment & feedback
The response acknowledges the importance of public protection but does not provide a detailed government assessment or assurance regarding specific protocols and policies.
Response accuracy