Member

I have previously set out, at Second Reading, the Government’s reservations with this Bill. The Government are determined to make further progress towards a safe and sustainable release for all those serving the IPP sentence, but not in a way that puts the public and victims at risk. We must bear in mind that an IPP sentence was imposed where offenders were convicted of a serious specified violent or sexual offence. According to published data, around 30% of all IPP prisoners in December 2023 were convicted of a sexual offence. There are still many individuals who are capable of causing serious violent or sexual harm, which is why we must press down on every control, treatment and resettlement lever. The IPP action plan ensures that prisoners serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans and that they are in the correct prison to access the right interventions and rehabilitative services.