UK government pledges to end remaining indefinite IPP prison sentences

The UK government has pledged to bring remaining imprisonment for public protection sentences to an end during the current parliament, addressing a system abolished for new cases in 2012 but still affecting thousands of people.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said legislation would be introduced to end the sentences, commonly known as IPPs. He also proposed a cross-party oversight group to supervise implementation, citing the need to balance fairness with public safety and national-security considerations.

IPP sentences were introduced in 2005 for offenders considered a continuing danger. They set a minimum term but no fixed release date. Their use expanded beyond the serious cases originally envisaged, and although Parliament abolished them in 2012, the change did not apply retrospectively.

Ministry of Justice and prison-service figures cited by The Guardian show that 856 people remained in prison under IPP sentences as of June 30, 2026, after completing the minimum term required before seeking parole. A further 1,415 had been recalled to custody after release on licence. The report said eight in 10 of those still imprisoned had served at least a decade beyond their minimum tariff.

Campaign group Ungripp welcomed the commitment as overdue, while calling for a swift and transparent process backed by community and mental-health support. The group is led by former IPP prisoner Marc Conway.

The pledge does not mean every affected prisoner will be released immediately. Burnham said some individuals could continue to pose risks, and the government has yet to publish the legislation or detailed criteria governing release, supervision and the ending of licences.