Conservatives Warn 2,271 IPP Prisoners Could Be Freed as UK Narrows Early Release Scheme
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 31
Conservatives Warn 2,271 IPP Prisoners Could Be Freed as UK Narrows Early Release Scheme
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 31
Summary
856 IPP inmates have never been released because the Parole Board judged them unsafe, and Conservatives say using that group to create prison space could endanger the public.
Andy Burnham narrowed the 1 October early-release scheme to exclude manslaughter after a campaign by PC Andrew Harper's family, leaving "hundreds" more prisoners in custody and forcing ministers to find space elsewhere.
Alex Davies Jones said the policy is meant to keep cells available in an overcrowded system and that those released would generally face GPS tagging, stressing that release "doesn't mean freedom."
England and Wales had 86,495 prisoners on 3 August—about 97% of usable capacity—while ending indefinite IPP detention would require legislation, meaning any space gains could take years.