Ministers urged to end ‘catastrophic cycle’ of open-ended IPP recalls
Ministers are being urged to end the cycle of indefinite recalls for prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. Campaigners are advocating for a fixed 56-day recall period to prevent the costly and often unjust detainment of individuals for minor breaches. The current system has been linked to high rates of suicide and significant financial burdens on taxpayers.
- ▪The open-ended IPP sentences have been compared to a 'gulag system' for trapping inmates without a release date.
- ▪75 percent of IPP prisoners recalled between October and December 2025 were returned for non-compliance rather than new crimes.
- ▪The recall process is estimated to cost taxpayers £64.4 million annually.
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NewsUKCrimeMinisters urged to end ‘catastrophic cycle’ of open-ended IPP recallsExclusive: More £64million is spent each year locking up IPP prisoners recalled to prison indefinitely despite committing no further crime, campaigners estimate Amy-Clare Martin Crime Correspondent Wednesday 20 May 2026 07:00 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2979683","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-prison-recall-period-b2979683.html","title":"Ministers urged to end ‘catastrophic cycle’ of open-ended IPP recalls "}}Related: Former IPP prisoner…
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