Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal

Former Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, and retired judges, Sir John Saunders and Simon Tonking, speak candidly about the IPP scandal. Alex Chalk, who served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice until 2024, speaks about the moral and political complexity of IPPs, calling the sentence “almost totalitarian”, a phrase that would have been politically explosive while he headed up the Ministry of Justice. While in office, Chalk introduced a major reform, reducing the licence period for released IPP prisoners from 10 years to 3, freeing around 1,742 people from lifelong supervision. He characterises IPPs as a “toxic legacy” and a “stain” on the justice system but explains why he did not accept calls to give all remaining IPP prisoners a definite end date. He argues that many long-term unreleased IPP prisoners may have been made more dangerous by the system itself, leaving ministers fearful of the political and personal consequences if a released prisoner were to reoffend seriously. This is the political fear at the heart of the issue: a fear that keeps ministers from doing what even they privately acknowledge is morally right. The retired judges, Simon Tonking and Sir John Saunders explain how the 2003 Criminal Justice Act made IPPs almost mandatory, even for offences with very short tariffs. They now regret their role in imposing sentences that have kept people incarcerated many years beyond the punishment originally judged proportionate to their crimes. They describe systemic failures: lack of courses, risk-averse parole decisions, and an impossibly high release test. They argue that justice requires one simple remedy: an end date. Without this, they warn, prisoners are left without the most basic element of rehabilitation: hope. There is a growing contradiction within the justice system: nearly all experts, including former ministers, judges, parole board members and human rights organisations, now agree the IPP sentence is fundamentally unfair. Yet political fear, of public backlash, media headlines and potential reoffending, continues to block the bold action needed to resolve the crisis. Despite the recent improvements, progress is too limited to provide justice to those, like the Roddy’s brother Rob, who remain imprisoned far beyond their tariffs. With more than 2,500 people still in custody on IPPs, many over a decade past their tariff, the current pace of release is too slow - but if politicians won’t end this injustice, who will? Contributors in order of appearance: Rt Hon Alex Chalk, KC Roddy Russell, brother of IPP serving prisoner Robert Simon Tonking, Retired Judge Sir John Saunders, Retired High Court Judge Andrew Morris, former IPP prisoner and Trustee of the Howard League Amy-Clare Martin, Crime Correspondent, The Independent @AmyClareMartin Production Credits:Presenter: Roddy Russell | @1roddyRussellExecutive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @MelissafitzgProducer: Steve Langridge | @SMLANGERSConsultant: Hank RossiAn Ear Worm Production for the Institute of NowGet involved:➕ Follow Trapped on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram @Trapped_Pod 🔎 Search #IPPScandal for more stories. 🗣️ Read more about the IPP campaign: UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp | injustice_of_ipp ✔️ Like, follow and share this podcast to get people listening: knowledge is power and the more who know, the harder it is for injustice to take place. ✍️ Write to your MP and ask them to raise questions about IPPs in Parliament⬇️ Download the Trapped series episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com___