Another four prisoners serving indefinite jail sentence, described as ‘psychological torture’, took their own lives in Britain’s prisons, The independent can be revealed by taking the total number of deaths administered to 94.
Experts have described the crisis as a ‘scandal hidden in clear sight’ and an ‘industrial scale miscarriage of justice’, as prisoners who are captured under the abolished imprisonment (IPP) take their own lives.
A further 37 exempt IPP prisoners took their own lives in the five years to April 2024, according to government figures, as many struggles with strict licensing conditions that constantly fear them.
On February 9, 2024, a prisoner serving an IPP sentence was killed in the category C HMP Warren Hill in Suffolk, according to records by The independent via a freedom of information request. Another death that was administered himself took place the following month at the HMP-Frankland in Durham.
On June 29, a man on an IPP sentence died in HMP Swaleside-a medium-security prison in Kent, where 14 men died in the two years to August 2024.
A fourth death that was administered himself was recorded on October 29 at HMP Wymott, in Lancashire. In 2023, inspectors warned that accommodation was concise and “out of recovery”.
Nine IPP prisoners took their own lives in 2023, the highest annual total on record, including Sean Davies, who wrote in a suicide letter that he took his life because her was “no chance of being released” from his IPP jail penalty.
The architect of the flawed sentence, David Blunkett, described the latest loss of life as a ‘terrible tragedy’ that should focus the thoughts on action to help IPP prisoners.
He admits that he regrets the launch of the open prison conditions when he was under Tony Blair in 2005. They were abolished in 2012 due to human rights, but not retrospective, and thousands who have weakened without release dates, including for minor crimes, until the parole board says they are safe for release.
Cases highlighted in The independent Includes that of Leroy Douglas, who has served for almost 20 years to steal a cellphone; Thomas White, 42, who set himself on fire in his cell and served 13 years to steal a phone; James Lawrence, 38, who has been in prison for 18 years after he received an eight -month imprisonment; and Abdullahi Suleman, 41, who still within 19 years after being jailed for a laptop.
Of 2,614 people still locked up on an IPP jail punishment served nearly 700 at least ten years longer than their original minimum term.
Successive governments have refused to re-establish IPP prisoners, despite calls from the Justice Committee and the UN Special Rapporteur on torture amid high rate of suicide and self-damage.
Labor Sports Lord Woodley, whose private member for IPP prisoners will not be re-centered, will not succeed without the support of the government, said: “Ministers accept the importance of solving the IPP scandal, but there is still a lack of bravery and general decency, with the government that refers to the only to resolve industrial scale of justice of justice.
“It causes great damage to prisoners and their loved ones, and every devastating story reminds us why quick and decisive actions are needed.”
The United Group for Reform of IPP, which detained every self-inflicted death, said that every death was “preventable” and that a family would leave a “lifetime of pain”.
“All of these deaths would have been preventable if the government had called the strength to do what had been asked by so many people and organizations for many years,” a spokesman added.
“If the current government eventually puts an end to IPP sentences, they can prevent future deaths by those who have served their sentence many times.”
Last year, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson said he was determined to support IPP prisoners, but said the government would not consider a relocation exercise that dominated the parole board as it would cause an ‘unacceptable risk of damage’.
Instead, prisoners should work to release a refreshing IPP action plan, he said.
Lord blunkett tell The independent That he is impressed by Lord Timpson’s determination to make progress, but added: “The terrible tragedy of lost life by serving the long-term IPP prisoners, everyone’s minds on action must focus on the possible release to protect and speed up the possible release.”
Richard Garside, of the Center for Crime and Justice Studies, said: “This is a scandal that is hidden in clear sight. Ministers recognize the problem, but provide forces solutions that are not too much.
“If we have to judge the ministers according to what they do, rather than what they say, we will have to conclude that they do not recognize the seriousness of the damage caused by the IPP sentence, or that they are not enough to solve it.”
A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said: ‘It’s right that IPP sentences have been abolished. With public protection as the biggest priority, the Lord Chancellor works with organizations and campaign groups to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to support those who still serve these sentences, such as improved access to mental health support and rehabilitation programs. “
If you experience feelings of distress, or struggle to deal with, you can talk to the Samaritans, with confidence, at 116 123 (UK and ROI), e -mail jo@samaritans.orgor visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the US, and you or someone you know, you need to need, call or SMS 988 at the moment, or visit 988lifeline.org To access online chat from the 988 suicide and crisis life line. It is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available for everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go www.befrienters.org to find a helpline near you.
