Indeterminate Sentences For Public Protection

EDM number 1047 in 2009-10, proposed by Andrew Stunell on 09/03/2010.
Categorised under the topics of Crime and Prisons.

That this House recognises the failure of the Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) to provide an effective prison sentence; notes that the thematic review published by the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorate has branded the current position as `unsustainable'; supports the Inspectorate's calls for a major policy review at ministerial level to examine the efficacy and utility of the IPP, taking into account that IPPs confuse the public and fail to satisfy the victims of crime; notes that the IPP is destabilising the running of prisons and contributing disproportionately to prison overcrowding; recognises the large numbers of IPP prisoners unable to access courses required before their release, thus remaining in prison beyond their tariff; further recognises the double punishment imposed on those who are mentally ill or have a learning disability who are effectively barred from participating in such courses; notes that the criticisms of the IPP voiced by the Lord Chief Justice, the Chairman of the Parole Board and the Chief Inspector of Prisons, among others, have not been satisfactorily resolved by the amendments to the sentence introduced by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008; and therefore urges the Government to commission a review immediately.

This motion has been signed by a total of 17 MPs.