Committee publication · Correspondence · 19 May 2026
Correspondence from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, dated 15 May 2026: Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) Sentences
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, updates the Justice Committee on Government progress supporting those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. As of 31 March 2026, 2,329 people serve IPP sentences in prison. The Government reports a 31% reduction in recalls (2025 vs 2024), implementation of Risk Assessed Recall Review, and new legislative measures from the Sentencing Act 2026 effective 1 June 2026 to accelerate licence termination reviews.
Key findings
- 2,329 people serving IPP sentences in prison as of 31 March 2026: 896 never released (11% reduction year-on-year), 1,433 recalled (6% reduction)
- IPP recalls fell 31% in 2025 (426) versus 2024 (619); Risk Assessed Recall Review released 50 IPP prisoners between November 2024 and September 2025
- Sentencing Act 2026 (effective 1 June 2026) reduces qualifying period for licence termination review from three to two years, and allows application for review one year after qualifying period ends (versus current two-year wait)
- Government reducing IPP population in community by two-thirds (891 as of 31 December 2025) through Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 measures
- Phoenix Unit opening summer 2026 at HMP Aylesbury to support highest-need IPP prisoners; around 90% of IPP prisoners currently in appropriate-custody prisons
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Lord Timpson, Andy Slaughter MP, Ministry of Justice, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, IPP Committee in Action, Parole Board
Notable line
“The Government is determined to support those in prison to achieve safe and sustainable releases, and to support those in the community to have their licences terminated, but not in a way that undermines public protection.”
Key Quotes
“I am very mindful of the challenges faced by those serving IPP sentences, and this is an issue I feel passionate about.”
“The Government is determined to support those in prison to achieve safe and sustainable releases, and to support those in the community to have their licences terminated, but not in a way that undermines public protection.”
“As of 31 March 2026, the number of people serving an IPP sentence in prison was 2,329. Of those, 896 had never been released (a reduction of 11% from the previous year) and 1,433 had been recalled”
“There were 426 IPP recalls in 2025, compared to 619 in”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗