Sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection

Sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP sentences) were available for courts to impose from 2005 to 2012, when they were abolished. Some people are still serving IPP sentences that were imposed before they were abolished. An IPP prisoner can be detained indefinitely if the Parole Board decides it is not safe to release them. IPP sentences have been widely criticised since they were first introduced, and the current government has committed to ending them “once and for all”.

What are IPP sentences?

IPP sentences have a minimum term, sometimes called a ‘tariff’, that must be served before a prisoner can be considered for release by the Parole Board (an independent body that assesses whether prisoners can safely be released). Once the tariff has expired, the prisoner can only be released if the Parole Board is satisfied they no longer need to be confined in prison for the protection of the public.

Release is never automatic, and prisoners can be detained indefinitely if the Parole Board decides it is not safe to release them.

When released, a person serving an IPP sentence will be on licence, subject to conditions. The licence will be in force until it is terminated. Breaching the conditions of the licence may result in the person being recalled to prison.

Various changes have been made in recent years to the law on the termination of IPP licences aiming to increase the number of terminations.  

Abolition of IPP sentences

IPP sentences were much criticised from their introduction. Particular concerns were that the sentences were too broad and caught up less serious offenders, and that it was difficult for IPP prisoners (particularly those with short minimum terms) to access the interventions they needed to demonstrate they were no longer a risk and so could be released. IPP sentences were abolished for offenders convicted on or after 3 December 2012. However, the change was not made retrospective, meaning it didn’t apply to existing prisoners who were already serving those sentences at the time.

Number of IPP prisoners still in custody

As of 30 June 2026, there were 856 unreleased IPP prisoners in custody. This was approximately a 12% decrease compared with the number imprisoned in June 2025. In addition to these unreleased IPP prisoners, there were 1,415 recalled IPP prisoners in custody on 30 June 2026, bringing the total number of IPP prisoners to 2,271. As of 30 June 2026, only three unreleased IPP prisoners had not yet reached their tariff date.

Pressure for change and calls for resentencing

Following the abolition of IPP sentences, pressure for further change has continued. Most significantly, in 2022 the Justice Committee published a report which identified and discussed the ongoing problems with IPP sentences, including their “profound” psychological harm on individuals (which was a considerable barrier to progression and release for some IPP prisoners). The committee’s primary recommendation was that the government should legislate to enable a resentencing exercise in relation to IPP-sentenced individuals. The government’s 2023 response to the committee’s report rejected this recommendation. The then Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, argued that resentencing would “give rise to an unacceptable risk to public protection”.

Parliamentary calls for a resentencing exercise have continued, with the issue being raised during the passage of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and the Sentencing Act 2026. It was also the subject of a private member’s bill in 2024.

Campaigning organisations such as the Prison Reform Trust, the Howard League for Penal Reform and UNGRIPP continue to highlight the effects of the IPP sentence on those still serving them, as well as their families, and to call for reforms.

Annual report and action plan

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 introduced a requirement for the Secretary of State to lay an annual report before Parliament about the steps taken to support those serving IPP sentences with their rehabilitation and progress towards release. The most recent report and action plan was published in July 2026.

Groups campaigning for reform say that the action plan has made some limited progress but that it will not solve the injustice of IPP without legislative reform.

Government plans to end IPP sentences

On 30 August 2026, the government announced it would “bring the injustice of IPP sentences to an end.” The Justice Secretary said the government would “soon bring forward legislation to end the sentence, once and for all, by the end of this Parliament”. The Shadow Justice Secretary criticised the plan, noting that the government had recently rejected calls for resentencing on the basis of public safety. The government announcement was welcomed by campaigning groups. On 15 September 2026, the Justice Secretary said he anticipated making a further announcement later in 2026.