New figures reveal that one-third of IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) prisoners who are recommended by the Parole Board for a transfer to open conditions have their move blocked by the Justice Secretary.
Between January and March 2025, the Parole Board recommended 34 IPP prisoners for transfer to open prisons. However, then-Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood overruled 11 of the decisions – a rejection rate of 32%. By contrast, in the same period the Parole Board recommended 78 life-sentenced prisoners for moves to open conditions and Ms Mahmood only overruled 13 of these decisions, a rejection rate of just 17%.
The figures will raise concerns among campaigners that the remaining IPP prisoners, who have mostly spent many years in prison beyond the minimum ‘tariff’ period set by their trial judge, are being held back from progressing – in some cases because of poor behaviour linked to mental health conditions which have developed during their time in custody.
Publishing the figures in the House of Lords, Justice Minister Baroness Levitt said:
“For many years the Secretary of State has asked the independent Parole Board for advice on whether a prisoner serving an IPP or a life sentence is suitable for transfer to open conditions. Where the Parole Board recommends that a prisoner is so suitable, the Secretary of State is not bound to accept the recommendation, and it is the Secretary of State who is ultimately responsible for determining whether a life or IPP prisoner is safe to be managed in an open prison.”
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