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Prisoners serving abolished indefinite jail terms costing taxpayers millions

Dr Alice Jill Edwards, the UN’s special rapporteur on torture, has described IPP jail term as ‘psychological torture’
Dr Alice Jill Edwards, the UN’s special rapporteur on torture, has described IPP jail term as ‘psychological torture’ (UN Human Rights Council screengrab)
  • Incarcerating Prisoners on abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences cost UK taxpayers £145 million in 2024, in addition to an estimated £1.6 billion spent since the sentence was abolished.
  • Over 2,600 inmates remain on IPP sentences, some for minor crimes, despite the sentences being deemed "inhumane" and abolished in 2012 due to human rights concerns.
  • The average cost per IPP prisoner is £53,801 per year, while other Prisoners are often released after serving only 40% of their sentences to reduce overcrowding.
  • Campaigners and experts criticize the government for the ongoing costs and urge for resentencing, highlighting cases of individuals serving lengthy sentences for minor offenses and the psychological impact of indefinite detention.
  • The Ministry of Justice defends the continued detention based on Parole Board assessments of risk but faces pressure to address the financial and ethical implications of IPP sentences.
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