Peers to debate important reforms on IPPs and parole

The Prison Reform Trust has produced a briefing to assist peers in scrutiny of the amendments. Read a copy of the briefing here.

The Prison Reform Trust was concerned by many of the proposed changes to the parole system put forward in Part IV of the Victims and Prisoners Bill. We are pleased however that the government has listened to concerns and introduced amendments to mitigate some of the worst aspects of the proposals.

It has also introduced welcome changes to the process for the review and termination of IPP licences. Furthermore, following the House of Lords committee stage, the government has introduced further welcome amendments to provide for:

• A new power of executive release of recalled IPP prisoners (amendment 139B).
• A new power for the government to dismiss an IPP recall for the purposes of the new arrangements introduced by clause 48 for the termination of an IPP licence (amendment 139A).
• A requirement for the government to produce an annual report to be laid before Parliament on the steps it has taken to progress the release and licence termination of people on IPPs (amendment 139C).

In the remaining stages of the bill, we hope that the government can be persuaded to address some of the outstanding concerns regarding Part IV, particularly relating to provisions which disapply the human rights act and interfere in the independence of the Parole Board. On IPPs, we hope the government will build on its welcome proposals and introduce reforms to further improve the prospects for the progression of people on IPP sentences.