An IPP prison sentence is a type of indeterminate sentence called Imprisonment for Public Protection , used in England and Wales for people the court judged “dangerous” to the public, even when their crime did not technically merit a full life sentence.

What is an IPP prison sentence?

In simple terms, an IPP is a sentence with:

  • A minimum term (tariff) you must serve in prison.
  • No fixed release date after that tariff.
  • Release only if the Parole Board decides you are safe enough to be let out.
  • Long-term licence conditions after release, with the risk of being recalled to prison.

So unlike a normal sentence, you do not automatically get out at the end of your tariff – you can be kept in prison for many years longer if you are still seen as a risk.

How IPP was supposed to work

When IPPs were introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (in force from 2005), they were meant for people:

  1. Convicted of certain serious violent or sexual offences.
  2. Judged to present a significant risk of serious harm to the public.
  3. Whose offence did not quite reach the threshold for a full life sentence.

The judge would:

  • Set a tariff (for example, 2 years).
  • After that tariff, the prisoner could apply to the Parole Board for release.
  • The Parole Board could keep them in custody indefinitely if it believed they were still dangerous.

Why IPPs became so controversial

Over time, IPPs became one of the most criticised parts of the UK sentencing system:

  • Many people got very short tariffs (sometimes under 2 years) but remained in prison far beyond that – in some cases more than a decade longer.
  • The system relied on prisoners completing rehabilitation courses , but these were often unavailable or oversubscribed, making it hard to prove reduced risk.
  • People released on licence could be recalled to prison for breaching conditions, even without new serious offences, which kept IPP numbers high.
  • Campaigners, charities and official reports have described the experience as psychologically damaging and even “never‑ending sentences”, with strong concerns about self‑harm and mental health.

One reported example often cited in the media is a man given an IPP with a tariff of about 19 months who was still in prison around 18 years later , showing how “short tariff, long detention” became a real-world outcome.

Is IPP still being given today?

  • The IPP sentence was abolished in 2012 by the Coalition Government, meaning courts can no longer impose new IPP sentences.
  • However, thousands of people are still serving old IPP sentences – either still in prison or out on life‑long licence, vulnerable to recall.
  • Parliamentary committees and justice bodies have repeatedly called IPPs “unjust” and urged the government to resentence or otherwise resolve the situation.

Key features of an IPP (at a glance)

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Feature How it works
Type of sentence Indeterminate sentence (no fixed automatic release date).
Minimum term (tariff) Judge sets a minimum period in prison that must be served in full before parole can be considered.
Release decision Parole Board decides if risk to the public is low enough; no guarantee of release at tariff expiry.
Licence after release Released on licence, often for life; can apply for licence to be ended after 10 years in the community.
Recall to prison Can be recalled for breaching licence conditions or new concerns about risk.
Current status Sentence abolished in 2012; no new IPPs, but many legacy prisoners still affected.

Recent and “latest news” angle

In the last few years there has been:

  • Ongoing media coverage of IPP prisoners described as serving “never‑ending sentences”, highlighting human stories and mental health impacts.
  • A major Parliamentary report in 2022 calling IPP a “stain on the justice system” and recommending resentencing or other strong reforms.
  • Continued campaigning by charities and families, arguing that many people on IPPs have long since served more time than is proportionate to their original crime.

Discussions on forums and social media often revolve around:

  • Families asking why loved ones with very low tariffs are still inside.
  • People on IPP talking about feeling “in limbo” because they do not know when, if ever, they will be fully free.

Multi‑viewpoints: How people see IPP

  • Supporters of the original idea say IPPs were meant to protect the public from truly dangerous offenders who might otherwise be released too soon.
  • Critics argue that in practice they became preventive, disproportionate sentences , imposed based on what someone might do in future, not purely on what they had actually done.
  • Reformers (including parliamentary committees and justice charities) largely agree that the current situation for remaining IPP prisoners is unsustainable and unfair , and that some form of systematic resentencing or time‑limit is needed.

If you or someone you know is affected

Because IPP is complex and highly individual, anyone directly affected should:

  1. Get advice from a specialist criminal solicitor or legal charity.
  2. Look at organisations like the Prison Reform Trust , Howard League , or other prisoner‑support groups, which publish guides and sometimes offer casework support.
  1. For mental health concerns or thoughts of self‑harm, seek professional support immediately via NHS services or emergency contacts, as IPP and long‑term custody can be extremely distressing.

TL;DR: An IPP prison sentence (Imprisonment for Public Protection) is an indeterminate sentence where you serve a minimum term but can then be kept in prison indefinitely until a Parole Board decides you are safe, and even after release you remain on licence with the risk of recall for many years, often life.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.