Early release a 'slap in face' to forgotten IPP prisoners

The government’s decision to release thousands of prisoners after serving just 40 per cent of their sentence has been branded a “slap in the face” to thousands languishing on indefinite jail terms.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

Those trapped under abolished imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences say they have been “forgotten” as they watch hundreds of prisoners celebrate being freed early to ease prison overcrowding.

Almost 3,000 people serving IPP sentences are not eligible for the government’s SDS40 early release scheme, which is expected to see 5,500 prisoners walk free by the end of October, despite more than 700 having served at least 10 years longer than their minimum tariff.

They include the father of three Abdullahi Suleman, who is still incarcerated almost 20 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery.

Campaigners have hit out at the “missed opportunity” to right the wrongs of the IPP sentence as well as freeing up muchneeded prison space. It is estimated releasing IPP prisoners would empty up to four entire prisons.

Suleman’s heartbroken wife Bernadette Emerson, from Cardiff, revealed her husband has been left devastated by the latest blow for IPP inmates.

She told The Independent: “It’s a slap in the face isn’t it really? It’s affecting IPPs and their families because there’s hope there that they could do something for IPPs and they are just not. Why can’t IPPs fall under the 40 per cent early release scheme? Their tariff ended years ago. I have had other IPPs messaging me saying they are suicidal because of this. It’s playing on their hope. He’s impacted by this because all he wants to do is come home to his family.”

The 41-year-old, who has been diagnosed with bipolar and posttraumatic stress disorder, was sentenced to a minimum of three years and 276 days for robbery aged 22.