Lindholme

Response
Further to last year’s response, whilst the Chief Inspector of Probation’s independent thematic inspection of IPP recall decisions, published in December 2023, found that the Probation Service is taking proportionate and necessary decisions in regard to recall, HMPPS recognises the need to prioritise support for prisoners serving an IPP so that they can better progress towards a safe release from custody. The updated IPP Action Plan which HMPPS published in April 2023 has provided a renewed focus on supporting those serving IPP sentences in both custody and the community by ensuring each prisoner has a robust and effective sentence plan, tailored to their individual needs. In February 2024, the Director General of Operations at HMPPS commissioned each of the seven Area Executive Directors for England and Wales (as well as the Executive Directors of the Long-Term High Security Estate, the Women’s Estate and Contracted Prisons) to develop operational IPP delivery plans. These Delivery Plans directly target front-line delivery to support those serving IPP sentences to work to achieve the objectives within their sentence plans and move towards a future safe and sustainable release. The expectation is that the provision of greater support to IPP offenders both in the lead up to release and post release will reduce the amount of IPP recalls. The North East area, of which HMP Lindholme is part, now has a Delivery Plan in place together with an Area IPP Progression Board chaired by the Yorkshire Prison Group Director, which monitors implementation. In addition, the anticipated improvements in the staffing levels in the Offender Management Unit at HMP Lindholme will support delivery of more effective sentence management and preparation for release. The IPP sentence was also reformed in the Victims and Prisoners Act which gained Royal Assent in May 2024. The changes will provide a clear pathway to a definitive end to the licence and sentence by reforming the termination of the licence for IPP offenders. On 5 September 2024 the Lord Chancellor announced the timings for these changes in a phased approach. From 1 November 2024, anyone who was released on an IPP licence for the first time five or more years ago and has spent at least the last two years of that period continuously in the community without being recalled will have their IPP licence terminated without the need for a review by the Parole Board. The Secretary of State will have two new Risk Assessed Recall Review powers allowing the 2-year period after someone is re-released from a recall not to be reset and to re-release people who have been recalled at any point without referring the case to the Parole Board. From 1 February 2025, the minimum period of time those serving an IPP sentence must spend on licence in the community after the date of their first release before their case is referred to the Parole Board will be reduced from 10 years to three years (for people convicted when they were over 18) or two years (for people who were convicted when they were under 18). The Parole Board will then consider whether to terminate the IPP licence. If the Parole Board decides not to terminate the licence it will still end automatically after a further two years continuously in the community on licence. This means the IPP sentence ended for around 1,800 people on 1 November 2024 and c.600 referrals will be made to the Parole Board for consideration of licence termination following commencement of phase two on 1 February 2025.