Context
The Justice Committee published a report on IPP sentences in September 2022, highlighting the ongoing issue of individuals remaining incarcerated under these abolished sentences.
Question
It is 12 and a half years since IPP sentences were described as “not defensible” and were abolished for offenders, but 2,852 people remain incarcerated under these sentences—just 74 fewer than in June 2022. When the Justice Committee reported in 2022, its key recommendation was that the Government legislate to enable a resentencing exercise for these individuals. Will the Minister please set up an expert committee to at least advise on how to bring forward a resentencing exercise urgently?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)
It is right and proper that IPP sentences were abolished. Various organisations have considered resentencing. None of them has identified an approach that would not involve releasing offenders whom the Parole Board has determined pose too great a risk to the public. We do not wish to give false hope to those serving the sentence by establishing an expert panel, but we will continue to work robustly with this group and do everything in our power to address the problem that we recognise.
Not addressed: Establishing an expert committee to advise on resentencing IPP offenders
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