Andrew Morris released from prison in 2019 after 12 years talks about Imprisonment for public protection. In England and Wales, the imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence was a form of indeterminate sentence introduced by s.225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (with effect from 2005) by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, and abolished in 2012.
A person Could be arrested and imprisoned just on the suspicion that they could potentially commit a crime. The primary objective of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) is the prevention of future harm and offending by incarceration, rather than punitive imprisonment triggered by an actual offence, or rehabilitation.
It was intended to protect the public against criminals whose crimes were not serious enough to merit a normal life sentence but who were regarded as too dangerous to be released when the term of their original sentence had expired. It is composed of a punitive “tariff” intended to be proportionate to the gravity of the crime committed and an indeterminate period which commences after the expiration of the tariff and lasts until the Parole Board judges the prisoner no longer poses a risk to the public and is fit to be released. The equivalent for under-18s was called detention for public protection, introduced by s. 226 of the Criminal Justice 2003 Act. The sentences came into effect on 4 April 2005.
Although there is no limit to how long prisoners can be detained under IPPs, and some may never be released, they may be released on review; an IPP sentence is not a sentence of life imprisonment with a whole-life tariff.
In 2007 the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court ruled that the continued incarceration of prisoners serving IPPs after tariff expiry where the prisons lack the facilities and courses required to assess their suitability for release was unlawful, bringing up concern that many dangerous offenders would be freed. In 2010 a joint report by the chief inspectors of prisons and probation concluded that IPP sentences were unsustainable with UK prison overcrowding.
Statistics show that even though IPP’s where abolished in 2012, In 2012 the IPP sentence for new cases was abolished by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, although over 6,000 prison inmates remained imprisoned for public protection; over 4,600 remained as of June 2015, and over 3,000 remained as of 2017. Three-quarters of them had completed their minimum term, and hundreds had served five times the minimum.
Andrew then went on to be the co-founder of the Taking the Initiative Party (TTIP) with his friend Charles and British business people – some from working class backgrounds who felt, like many others across the country, that they had become politically homeless.
They founded the Party to create meaningful politics that will inspire people to get out and vote. They want to put forward candidates for election who truly represent their community AND who will deliver on campaign promises. They offer practical policies based in fact and detail, with honesty, transparency and accountability at the core of everything they do.
Their background is in business and believe that business has a positive part to play in community: through entrepreneurship, employment and empowerment. TTIP also believe in responsible business that contributes to society – through fair taxation, employment rights, and environmental accountability.
Taking the Initiative can see a brighter future for the UK, where everyone has a chance to make a difference and to thrive. We want to build a society where people who take the initiative to work towards a better Britain are rewarded: with excellent schools, world-leading healthcare, and a flourishing economy.
https://www.theinitiativeparty.org.uk/
“The more we have these conversations, the more these conversations can be had.” ~ Alison Jaye