IPP Sentences
Sample letter
A more detailed version, including official statistics, relevant sources and links, is available to download at the bottom of this page.
IPP Sentences
Detailed MP letter template - Editable Word document - England and Wales
To be personalised and sent by the individual sender
Issue: The continuing impact of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences and the need for urgent review and reform.
Who to send it to: Your constituency MP.
Purpose: To seek action on the IPP legacy, safe progression and release, licence reform, recall, transparent reporting and support for people and families affected.
Before you send
Replace every yellow-highlighted bracket with your own details. The letter may be sent by anyone concerned about this issue; do not claim to be directly affected unless that is true. Do not include case papers, confidential risk information, medical details or personal information about another person unnecessarily.
You can contact your MP at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Use the official Parliament postcode finder to identify your MP:
Background: why IPP sentences still matter
Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences were indeterminate sentences. A person was given a minimum term, often called a tariff, but could remain in prison beyond that term until the Parole Board was satisfied that continued detention was no longer necessary for public protection. People released on licence could also be recalled to custody.
IPP sentences were abolished prospectively in 2012 because they had been used too widely and inconsistently. The abolition was not retrospective, meaning that people already serving IPP sentences remained subject to them. The Ministry of Justice Justice Data service recorded 856 people in prison serving IPP sentences at 30 June 2026.
Current context and reform
Public protection must remain central to decisions about risk. At the same time, the continuing IPP legacy raises serious questions about proportionality, progression, access to rehabilitative support, recall, licence termination and the effect on people and families who have lived for years with an indeterminate sentence.
In September 2026, the Government stated that it would bring an end to the IPP sentence for people who continue to serve it and bring forward legislation by the end of this Parliament. Clear detail, transparent safeguards and meaningful support will be needed to turn that commitment into fair and safe change.
This template does not ask an MP to intervene in an individual Parole Board or court decision. It asks for scrutiny of policy, resources, accountability and the support needed to resolve the IPP legacy fairly and safely.
LETTER TO YOUR MP
[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Town/City]
[Postcode]
[Email Address]
[Date]
[MP's Name] MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Subject: IPP sentences, urgent review and reform
Dear [MP's Name],
When a sentence has no clear end, who is left carrying the uncertainty?
I am writing as one of your constituents to raise concerns about the continuing impact of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences and the need for urgent, fair and safe reform.
IPP sentences were abolished prospectively in 2012 because they had been used too widely and inconsistently. However, the abolition did not apply retrospectively. Many people have therefore continued to live with the consequences of an indeterminate sentence, whether in custody, following recall, or while subject to an IPP licence.
This is not only a question of policy. It affects people, families and communities. Long-term uncertainty can affect mental health, relationships, housing, employment and the ability to plan a future. Families may also carry the emotional and practical burden of trying to support someone through a system that can be difficult to understand and navigate.
The Ministry of Justice Justice Data service recorded 856 people in prison serving IPP sentences at 30 June 2026. This figure shows that, despite abolition over a decade ago, the IPP legacy has not disappeared.
I recognise that public protection and individual risk must be considered carefully. But a system intended to protect the public must also be fair, transparent, adequately resourced and capable of helping people progress safely rather than leaving them indefinitely trapped by a sentence abolished for new cases.
I would appreciate answers to the following questions:
What is the Government’s timetable for legislation and policy to bring an end to the IPP sentence for people who continue to serve it, and how will Parliament be kept informed of progress?
What urgent review will be undertaken for people who remain in custody or have been recalled, including their access to progression opportunities, risk assessments, treatment and support?
How will the Government ensure that the Parole Board, prisons, probation and legal representatives have the resources and information needed to make timely, fair and safe decisions?
What practical support will be available to people leaving custody or seeking to avoid recall, including stable housing, healthcare, mental-health support, family contact and employment support?
How will the Government ensure that licence termination and recall arrangements are fair, clearly explained and consistently applied while protecting the public?
Will the Government publish regular, accessible data on the remaining IPP population, time spent beyond tariff, recall, release, licence termination and the impact of reforms?
Reform must be safe, but it must also be credible. People should not be left in indefinite uncertainty because the system lacks the resources, transparency or resolve to address a sentence that Parliament abolished for new cases.
I would welcome information about the Government’s current plans and whether you will raise these concerns with the Lord Chancellor and the relevant justice minister.
A just system should protect the public while giving people a fair and realistic route to a lawful end to their sentence.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Postcode]
Optional paragraph: your personal connection
If appropriate, insert a short paragraph before the final request in the letter. Do not include confidential material from a Parole Board dossier, court papers or personal information about another person without their permission.
“I am particularly concerned because [brief factual description of your connection to the issue]. The continuing uncertainty has affected [me/my family/our ability to plan for the future] in the following ways: [short description]. I would welcome clear information about the progress of reform and the support available.”
Practical steps and confidentiality
If you are directly affected by an IPP sentence, seek independent legal advice or appropriate specialist support before making decisions about a parole review, recall, licence termination or a challenge to a decision. An MP cannot direct the Parole Board, a prison, probation, a court or another decision-maker in an individual case.
Keep copies of relevant correspondence and record the dates of any contacts with agencies. Do not send an MP confidential evidence, risk reports, medical information or personal information about another person unless you are authorised to share it.
Official sources and further reading
Ministry of Justice - IPP factsheet
Ministry of Justice Justice Data - prisons
HMPPS - further consideration of IPP licence termination
Kulturalism® Take Action Template | Disclaimer
This independent template is provided for public information and civic participation, not as legal advice. Laws, policy, statistics and guidance may change. Verify sources before use, personalise the letter to reflect your own views and circumstances, and do not include sensitive information unnecessarily. Kulturalism® does not act on behalf of the sender unless expressly agreed in writing.
Download the letter here