The United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, has strongly criticized the British government for its continued treatment of prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, warning that they are being subjected to “psychological torture.” Dr. Edwards expressed her concerns in an exclusive interview with The Independent, where she highlighted that IPP prisoners are being detained arbitrarily and are very likely having their human rights breached by the UK government.
The controversial IPP sentences, introduced by New Labour in 2005, left offenders with an indefinite jail term after serving a minimum sentence, with no maximum date for release. Though the sentences were abolished in 2012 following a European Court of Human Rights ruling, thousands of individuals remain in prison, trapped by the system. The Independent recently revealed that six in ten of these prisoners are being denied the opportunity to move to open jails, despite recommendations from the Parole Board. Dr. Edwards echoed these findings, calling the ongoing situation “inhumane” and an ongoing violation of international human rights standards.
Notably, The Independent also uncovered distressing individual cases, such as James Lawrence, who has been incarcerated for 18 years despite being sentenced to just eight months, and Thomas White, who set himself on fire in a desperate act after serving 12 years for a minor theft. Another alarming case involves Yusuf Ali, who nearly died after spending 61 days on a hunger strike over his indefinite sentence. In the past year alone, 61% of Parole Board recommendations for IPP prisoners to progress to open conditions were rejected by the UK government, leading to increased despair and worsening mental health among those affected.
Dr. Edwards stated, “Keeping them locked up indefinitely, without a clear path to release, is simply inhumane,” and emphasized that the psychological toll on these individuals is profound. She noted that many IPP prisoners are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, and a sense of hopelessness, which can be life-threatening. Dr. Edwards called on the UK government to reconsider resentencing these individuals, starting with the longest-serving offenders, as a means to correct this injustice.
Amnesty International, which has also criticized the system, supported calls for resentencing, with their legal program director Tom Southerden telling The Independent that IPP sentences are “a stain on the justice system.” He further argued that the policy has led to a “living nightmare” for those trapped within it.
The British government, however, has refused to entertain the idea of resentencing, with Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson defending the independence of the Parole Board in release decisions. Yet, campaigners, such as Donna Mooney, whose brother died while serving an IPP sentence, argue that the system is fundamentally flawed and continues to ruin lives. Mooney pointed out the stark inequality in how IPP prisoners are treated compared to those sentenced under the regular system.
