Failure to tackle '˜indeterminate' prison sentences creating an '˜unnecessary burden' on the system

Imprisonment for public protection sentences (IPPs) were abolished in 2012, but around 3,300 inmates are still being detained under these measures meaning they have no set release date.

Chairman of the Parole Board, Nick Hardwick, has stated that the Government “must act now” to reduce their numbers in a bid to ease population sizes and prevent self-harm among offenders.

“There are about 3,300 IPP prisoners still in prison... Hundreds are years over tariff,” Mr Hardwick told the BBC.

“We know IPP prisoners are three times more likely to self-harm as other prisoners... the prisons system is simply unable to care for prisoners with that level of need.

“Every prison officer you’ve got on constant watch of looking at a prisoner in this situation is not somebody who is walking the wings, doing the rehabilitative work with other prisoners so those other prisoners are less likely to offend when they come out.

“We need to get a grip on this problem.”

Lib Dem justice spokesman Jonathan Marks has labelled the situation a “disgrace”, “Five years on since the abolition of IPPs, thousands are still languishing in prison serving sentences way beyond their original terms,” he said.

“The government has a moral responsibility to reform the system and speed up the release of those who have served their tariff sentences.”

Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon told the Yorkshire Post that the backlog was “creating an unnecessary burden on a prison system already at breaking point”.

“This is further evidence of the Conservatives’ failure to get a grip of the situation in our prisons,” he said.

“The government has already accepted that the IPP system is broken. It needs to step forward with solutions that protect the public and ensure the rehabilitation of prisoners.

“Instead we have a system that is fuelling a mental health crisis in our prisons.”

The Ministry of Justice says it is working closely with the Parole Board to process cases as quickly as possible.