11 September — Today, families affected by Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences will deliver a petition to 10 Downing Street, pressing the UK Government to re-sentence all IPP prisoners.
What are IPP Sentences?
IPP sentences were introduced in 2005 and abolished in 2012. However, they were not rescinded retrospectively, so thousands of people remain under their terms. Initially designed for serious offenders whose crimes did not merit life imprisonment, IPPs were supposed to tie release to rehabilitation. In practice, once offenders are released they remain on licence indefinitely—and can be recalled at any time, often for behaviour that does not amount to a criminal offence.
With a bill now progressing through the House of Lords that would allow re-sentencing of all remaining IPP offenders, those still subject to IPP conditions describe them as equivalent to a life sentence in all but name.
Families Head to Downing Street
One of the campaign’s leading voices is Shirley Debono of Cardiff. Her son, Shaun Lloyd, was given two and a half years in 2005 for stealing a mobile phone, yet served nine years in prison and has been recalled under his IPP licence multiple times—most recently in March 2024. According to Shirley, drug dependence developed while incarcerated has led to four separate recalls. All told, Shaun has now spent over twelve years behind bars.
Shirley paints a bleak picture: Shaun says he is in “arbitrary detention,” locked up 23 hours a day. Even when he’s engaging with rehabilitation programmes and earning praise, his status as an IPP prisoner means he can be sent back to his cell. She argues that people in his situation would not be imprisoned if they were not under the IPP regime, and that recall can prolong detention for behaviour that would never lead to criminal charges outside it.
She adds: “It was bad enough serving the IPP part of the sentence when you couldn’t get out for many, many years—that was absolutely horrible. But when you’re recalled, and it’s indefinite, you still don’t know when you’re getting out. You’re going back to the beginning again. Feeling hopeless, no end in sight, no light at the end of the tunnel. That’s how he’s feeling.”
Legal Action & Petition Demands
The petition lodged today highlights a complaint already submitted to the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. It argues that although IPP has been abolished, its effects continue to inflict arbitrary detention on many prisoners. The petition asks for a formal response and seeks a meeting with the Prime Minister.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice responded: “It is right that IPP sentences were abolished. We are determined to make progress towards safe and sustainable releases for those in prison, but not in a way that undermines public protection.”
Campaign Groups & Reform Proposals
A number of campaign groups and legal organisations are pushing for the IPP sentence to be revoked— or at least fundamentally revised. Key among them:
UNGRIPP (United Group for Reform of IPP) – A grassroots group led by families of those serving or affected by IPP sentences. They are explicitly campaigning for the re-sentencing of every person still serving an IPP.
Howard League for Penal Reform – Led an expert working group chaired by former Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd. They have published proposals to end the detention of people still under IPP, including modifying the Parole Board release test so that a release date be given within a two-year window, among other safeguards.
Prison Reform Trust – Involved in highlighting the injustices, supporting reforms, and campaigning for better licence termination, reduced qualifying periods, and improved release progression.
These groups argue that without re-sentencing or legislative reform, IPP cases continue to violate human rights, inflict psychological damage, and fail both prisoners and public safety goals.
