Tories Warn 700 Sex Offenders Could Be Freed Under Labour's Prison Reforms

The Conservative party has raised concerns that approximately 700 sex offenders may be released from prison under Labour's proposed reforms to the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentencing system. These reforms aim to abolish IPP sentences, which allow for indefinite detention if offenders are deemed a public risk.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy stated that abolishing IPP sentences could lead to the release of dangerous sex offenders. Ministry of Justice figures obtained by Timothy's office indicate that 700 inmates currently serving IPP sentences are sex offenders. Of this group, 379 have never been released, while 321 have been recalled to prison for parole violations or new offenses.

Timothy urged Labour to focus on building more prison capacity rather than releasing IPP prisoners. He noted that two-thirds of IPP prisoners are incarcerated for violent or sexual crimes and have been deemed unsafe for release by the Parole Board.

IPP sentences were introduced by the Labour government in 2005 and abolished for new offenses in 2012. However, many individuals convicted under this sentence have remained in prison because the Parole Board has not considered them safe for release. Justice Secretary Alex Norris recently outlined proposals to end all remaining IPP sentences, citing them as a long-standing injustice and stating that many offenders have served significantly longer than the original court-imposed tariffs.

Norris acknowledged that some IPP prisoners have committed serious crimes but emphasized that public safety remains the top priority, balanced with fairness. He committed to ensuring that any releases would be safe and sustainable.

Previous proposals, such as resentencing all offenders on remaining IPP sentences, were indicated by Labour to carry an unacceptable risk of freeing criminals without probation supervision. 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.

These concerns arise following a separate controversy where Labour faced criticism for its plans to release thousands of prisoners early. Prime Minister Andy Burnham subsequently amended these plans to exclude offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual offenses, and grooming. Further exclusions were added after protests from the family of Pc Andrew Harper, as two of the officers' killers were slated for early release.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that while the government aims to end the unfairness of IPP sentences for those who have served their time, measures will be in place to manage risks to communities. The ministry indicated a commitment to working cross-party and with experts to ensure a safe approach to these releases, which is expected to take time.