Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their guidance Managing parole-eligible offenders on licence policy framework, published on 11 November 2020, which (1) non-government organisations, and (2) individuals, were consulted prior to their decision to extend the qualifying period for suspension of supervision periods for people serving (a) a life sentence of between four years and 10 years, and (b) an imprisonment for public protection sentence of between four years and five years.

For offenders serving an IPP sentence, the policy change did not lead to an extended minimum period for all before suspension of supervision can be considered. In fact, in the new policy, for some IPP cases, the minimum period is less than it was previously.

This policy change represents a clear, fair and consistent position for those subject to indeterminate licences in the community and supports my primary responsibility to protect the public.

The development or amendment of all justice policy frameworks incudes significant internal consultation. No non-Government organisations were consulted.

The revised policy framework, ‘Managing Parole Eligible Offenders on Licence’ was disseminated across HM Prison and Probation Service via internal communications, which included a leaflet for those serving a qualifying sentence; it is also published and available in the public domain. It falls to probation officers in the National Probation Service to discuss any implications of a policy change directly with those affected.

The minimum period of supervision in the previous policy of either four or 10 years, depending on certain factors relating to the offence and notoriety, applied to those offenders serving life and Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. Under the previous policy, anyone serving a life sentence for the murder of an adult or for some other serious offences, had to serve a minimum of four continuous years on licence in the community before becoming eligible for consideration for the supervision requirements in the licence to be suspended. The change in policy brought such individuals into line with all others serving a life sentence, in that they must now spend 10 continuous years on licence in the community before becoming eligible for supervision to be suspended, unless exceptional circumstances apply. This change was necessary both to enhance public protection and to ensure public confidence with respect to offenders who had committed murder.