Imprisonment for Public Protection

Debate between Baroness Levitt and Lord Woodley

Thursday 2nd July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

There is a persistent myth that people got IPP sentences for rather trivial offences, which is in fact not true. It was always required at the time that it was both a serious offence and that they had demonstrated concerns about previous offending. There is this cohort that needs to be looked at, and the Government are anxiously trying to ensure that we make every move we possibly can to make sure that they are helped to demonstrate that they are no longer a risk. However, no Government—and that includes the Government who were led by the party opposite—will release people when the independent Parole Board has adjudged that they remain a risk to the public.

[Lord Woodley (Lab)]

My Lords, the impact of IPP sentences on family members is absolutely devastating, especially with miscarriages of justice, which IPPs indeed are on an industrial scale. On Wednesday 15 July, many of these families will be at Westminster again to protest against this never-ending injustice, marching from the Ministry of Justice at 11 am to the Houses of Parliament to hold one of their regular meetings. Therefore, will the noble Baroness ask the Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Timpson, whether he will kindly agree to meet the delegation of these family members on 15 July? Maybe he will even join them, bearing in mind that they will be outside his own building.

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

I will certainly pass that on to my noble friend—I suspect that he may already know. He regularly meets with the families, because we understand the pressures that are upon them and are anxious to hear what we can do to ensure that we can safely release this troubling cohort while protecting the public as well.