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To: The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP

Release the Remaining IPP Prisoners

The High Court abolished indefinite prison sentences (IPP sentences) in 2012, yet there are still 3500 IPP prisoners, stuck in the prison system with no hope of release, even if they've served their prison term and passed the necessary training.

We demand that;
- The backlog of IPP prisoners is urgently attended to, and IPP prisoners are prioritised for release immediately.
- IPP prisoners are offered the specialist support - indefinite sentencing has a devastating effect on IPP prisoners mental health, sixteen IPP prisoners have committed suicide this year.

Why is this important?

IPP prisoners remain in jail indefinitely in England and Wales under the sentence of imprisonment (IPP), which was abolished in 2012 for future offenses. Many have long exceeded the punitive tariff imposed for the offenses they committed, in some cases as little as a few months. However, at present IPP prisoners must seek release on parole on the same terms as life sentence prisoners, although the Justice Secretary has a statutory power to establish a new release test. In several cases the European Court of Human Rights has found continued IPP detention to be arbitrary and in breach of Convention rights.

Lord Lloyd of Berwick, former Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, said:
"There are thousands IPP people in prison who arguably shouldn’t be there and have no release date. A senior high court judge describes them as ‘the disappeared'...“This is a crime against humanity. We are talking about people here who have paid for their crime who have finished their sentence who want to return home to their families build their life’s back up”

IPP sentance is effecting the prisoners Mental Health

It should also be noted that apart from the IPP prisoners themselves, the real losers are their family and friends who are often left struggling to understand the realities of an IPP sentence often at a loss as to what to do about the nightmare situation in which they find themselves.

Further information:
1. The Guardian - "Former law lord says 3,500 prisoners behind bars longer than necessary" -

How it will be delivered

Update. There is now 2400 approx IPP Prisoners still detained. The Mental health of the prisoners was reported 2008 - .
There since has been 262 IPP Prisoner deaths. One IPP prisoner on hunger strike. IPP Prisoners have had Mental break downs and are now in Psychiatric hospitals. Rehabilitation, means to restore not torture. 2000 will still be there in 2020
The petition will be delivered by hand.

Houses of Parliament, London

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Reasons for signing

  • Because my daughter is on her own now; 3 children with another on ther way; because her boyfriend got sentenced for a crime he committed when he was 18; he’s now 36 ; not committed another crime since original; and because of probation ; he’s sent back to prison ; with no idea when he will be released!! So a whole family broken up; all because of this Ipp license DISGUSTING!!
  • To not have any idea as to when you’re release date is when you have done your tariff is ridiculous and should not be acceptable
  • My husband is 4years over tariff and is in ill health the prison his in is the closest that has a progressive regime thats a 3hour drive away IPP is causing my mental health to suffer i really want my husband home he has served 11years almost the full sentence why cant IPP be converted into a straight sentence? I dont buy mr buckland’s excuse for not doing so please support this by signing as its not just the prisoners suffering its their families too


2016-08-07 10:04:29 +0100

20,000 signatures reached

2016-07-23 09:44:59 +0100

10,000 signatures reached

2016-07-22 14:52:06 +0100

5,000 signatures reached

2015-07-21 19:05:02 +0100

1,000 signatures reached

2015-03-07 04:47:49 +0000

500 signatures reached

2014-10-07 07:02:09 +0100

100 signatures reached

2014-10-04 12:44:33 +0100

50 signatures reached

2014-10-03 22:42:57 +0100

25 signatures reached

2014-10-03 16:33:31 +0100

10 signatures reached