A group of United Nations experts has sharply criticised the UK Government for failing to abolish the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence. They warned that continued inaction is prolonging serious breaches of human rights.
The three special rapporteurs issued their statement on 15 July. They said: “Thousands of people remain trapped in prisons under a scheme that Parliament itself abolished more than a decade ago.” Nearly all of them, the experts added, are years past their tariffs.
“Such punishments may amount to psychological torture,” they said.
The rapporteurs singled out prisoners with disabilities and neurodivergence for particular concern. They also highlighted those with acquired brain injuries, severe mental illness or childhood trauma.
In their view, imprisonment should aim at rehabilitation and reintegration. A sentence that offers no realistic route to release, while causing deep psychological suffering, conflicts with those principles.
The experts repeated earlier calls for the Government to re-sentence every remaining IPP prisoner. If a full review proves impracticable, ministers should set clear criteria for a first phase of partial re-sentencing, they said.
They added that the UK must protect the dignity and integrity of people in its custody. It cannot let this discredited regime drift on indefinitely, they said.
On the same day, the campaign group Injustice of IPP held a demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice. The protesters then marched to Parliament.
They gathered outside the MoJ offices in Petty France, Westminster. The crowd included families of people still in prison and former prisoners who had served IPP sentences. Members of the House of Lords who have pressed for a solution for years joined them.
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson came out to meet the group. Several national journalists also attended.
The demonstrators called for urgent re-sentencing of everyone still serving IPP sentences in England and Wales. If a full review is impracticable, they argued, the Government should set clear criteria for partial re-sentencing as a first step.
In 2025 a review by the Howard League suggested giving everyone on IPP a fixed release date. It also proposed support to help people prepare for release and afterwards.
The protest was the latest in a series by the group. Organisers Stacey and Christine Clough said they would step up pressure on the Government. With a new Prime Minister in office, they hope for real progress. They want everyone held long after their tariff to go free, with support in the community.
They said: “The Government must have the courage to do the right thing. This country condemns other nations for human rights abuses, but still has people locked up contrary to international law. It must end, and until it does, we will keep coming back.”
