A Bill to resentence prisoners still serving imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences has been introduced to the House of Lords
IPP sentences—indefinite terms introduced in 2005 by then Home Secretary Lord Blunkett—were abolished in 2012 for overuse and amid rising concern about the psychological impact on inmates, but about 2,700 IPP prisoners remain incarcerated, 99% over tariff. They include Wayne Bell, imprisoned 17 years ago at 17 years old for an assault while attempting to steal a bicycle, and Aaron Graham, imprisoned 19 years ago for grievous bodily harm.
Lord Woodley’s IPP (Resentencing) Private Member’s Bill, presented this week, would create a framework for resentencing IPP prisoners, with a time-limited expert committee, including a member of the judiciary, set up to advise on implementation.
Lord Blunkett, who is backing the Bill, said it made sense not only ‘in terms of dealing with the human tragedy of individuals and their families’ but also, ‘where possible, relieving pressure on the beleaguered criminal justice system’.
