Labour Faces Tory Criticism Over Potential Release of 700 Sex Offenders Under Prison Reforms

The Conservative Party has raised concerns that approximately 700 sex offenders could be released from prison under Labour's proposed reforms to the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence. Critics argue that these reforms, aimed at addressing issues with the current system, pose a risk to public safety.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy stated that abolishing IPP sentences would result in hundreds of dangerous sex offenders being "let loose on the streets." He further highlighted that two-thirds of IPP prisoners are incarcerated for violent or sexual crimes, and the Parole Board has deemed them unsafe for release. Timothy urged Labour to focus on building more prison capacity rather than releasing these individuals.

Ministry of Justice figures obtained by Timothy's office indicate that 700 inmates serving IPP sentences are sex offenders. Of these, 379 have never been released, while 321 have been recalled to jail for breaching parole or committing new offenses. An additional 791 offenders on IPPs have convictions for violence against the person, with others convicted of robbery, criminal damage, arson, or possession of weapons.

The IPP sentence was introduced in 2005 by Tony Blair's government, allowing for indefinite detention if offenders were deemed a risk to the public. While abolished for new offenses in 2012, many individuals serving the sentence have remained incarcerated because they were still considered a threat.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris recently outlined proposals to end all remaining IPP sentences, citing the long-standing injustice faced by offenders who have served beyond their original court-imposed tariffs. Norris stated that legislation to end the sentence would be introduced by the end of the current Parliament, emphasizing that public safety remains a top priority and that releases would be "safe and sustainable."

However, concerns about public safety have been amplified by past incidents. An official Ministry of Justice report found that 97 prisoners released from IPP sentences between 2014-15 and 2023-24 committed serious further offenses, including murder, manslaughter, rape, and serious sexual assaults.

Labour has previously faced public outcry over a separate program to release prisoners early. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was reportedly forced to exclude offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual offenses, and grooming offenses from that scheme. Further exclusions were later added for those convicted of manslaughter and other unlawful killing offenses, following protests related to the case of Pc Andrew Harper, whose killers had been slated for early release.

An MoJ spokesperson acknowledged that while ending the IPP sentence is necessary due to its inherent unfairness, some IPP prisoners may still pose a risk. The ministry plans to collaborate with other parties and experts to ensure a responsible approach, with public safety at the forefront of their strategy.