Criminal Justice: Imprisonment for Public Protection

Baroness Burt of Solihull Excerpts

Wednesday 9th December 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, public protection has to be the Government’s priority. We recall only those IPP offenders who are assessed by those managing them to present an unacceptably high risk of harm to the general public. However, of course, we need to look after them, support them, and try to help them to stay out in our communities safely.

[Baroness Burt of Solihull (LD) [V]]

With recalls in the last five years up 187%, at this rate some IPP prisoners will never be released, under a sentence that has now been discredited and abolished. Does the Minister agree that we need to give them a date after which they cannot be recalled, as well as proper resources, planning and support to help redress the injustice they face every day and to help them make a success of life on the outside?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

As I have said before, public protection has to be our priority. We recall only those assessed as posing an unacceptably high risk of harm to the general public. But of course we need to keep this under review, and each of those cases and offenders is under constant review.