header-logo header-logo

Public Law Update

IPP prisoners, Parole Board, Injunctions

IPP PRISONERS

In Secretary of State for Justice v Walker and James [2008] EWCA Civ 30, [2008] All ER (D) 15 (Feb) the Court of Appeal considered the lawfulness of the failure of the secretary of state to provide offending behaviour courses for prisoners serving sentences of indeterminate detention for public protection (IPP) and whether or not that failure rendered the detention unlawful.

The challenge

The respondent prisoners were both serving IPP sentences under s 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA 2003). These sentences comprise two components:

 

  • a minimum term to be served to meet the requirements of retribution and deterrence; and

  • thereafter a preventative component when continued detention will be justified so long as the prisoner continues to pose an unacceptable risk to the public.

 

Such sentences engage Art 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention) when the preventative phase is entered and at regular intervals thereafter, and

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
back-to-top-scroll