Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
Paragraph: 39
Develop new IPP Action Plan including performance measures, accountable owners, and timeframes
Recommendation
We recommend the MoJ and HMPPS develop a new action plan, which should include clear performance measures for each of its workstreams. The new action plan should also, against each workstream, include an accountable owner for the workstream, and a timeframe for completion of each workstream activity so that there can be greater accountability and scrutiny. A new version of the IPP Action Plan should be published by the end of Q1 2023, with a report on the operation of the plan and any revisions to it published annually thereafter.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the issue but largely details existing work and initiatives to improve mental health support for all prisoners, including IPP offenders, and mentions the recently published draft Mental Health Bill, rather than committing to a new IPP-specific action plan.
Paragraph Reference:
39
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Reasoning: We acknowledge that uncertainty over a release date can be unsettling which is why we are committed to ensuring appropriate support is provided, when needed. The Government also recognises that many IPP cases are complex and challenging. Access to Mental Health support HMPPS is working with partners to improve mental health support for all prisoners, including those serving IPP sentences and is already responding, separately, to a number of reports into mental health, including the Committee’s Report on Mental Health in Prisons published in September 2021 and associated Action Plan (January 2022). To manage the commitments and activities in the reports, a Mental Health Working Group has been formed, involving DHSC, MoJ, HMPPS, Home Office, NPCC, and the Welsh Government. The Group is overseeing a consolidated Mental Health action plan, which brings together all the published commitments and recommendations. 4 IPP sentences: Government and Parole Board Responses to the Committee’s Third Report HMPPS continues its partnership with Samaritans who train prisoner Listeners to provide emotional support to their fellow prisoners in emotional distress. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and related regime restrictions, in 2021 there were around 1,300 trained Listeners who responded to 25,000 calls for help and spent 14,000 hours supporting other people in prison. HMPPS has recently renewed the grant to Samaritans and are working with them to strengthen and expand the Listener scheme. The Samaritans helpline is freely available, and last year the service received 410,000 calls from prisoners. This Government is committed to ensuring that offenders within the criminal justice system can access appropriate and timely support to meet their mental health needs. The Government’s draft Mental Health Bill was published on 27 June 2022 and includes key justice-led reforms, including the introduction of a new 28-day statutory time limit for transfers from prison to hospital. This will speed up access to specialist inpatient care and treatment for those experiencing acute mental health needs who meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act.