Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026
Correspondence from Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, dated 10 July 2026: Imprisonment for Public Protection Annual Report
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Lord Timpson reports on progress implementing the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence reforms under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and Sentencing Act 2026. HMPPS has reduced IPP prisoners in custody by 8–11%, established progression panels and specialist units, and secured automatic licence termination for 1,742 offenders. The letter outlines six new operational objectives for 2026/27, emphasizing support for prisoners' progression towards release and licence termination.
Key findings
- IPP prisoners who have never been released fell 11% year-on-year to 896; recall-based custody fell 8% to 1,433 as of 31 March 2026.
- Automatic licence termination of 1,742 IPP licences on 1 November 2024; community IPP population has since fallen by over two-thirds.
- Sentencing Act 2026 (effective 1 June 2026) shortened licence termination qualifying period to two years and permitted one-year review intervals before automatic termination.
- Operational progress includes Progression Panels Policy Framework, Release on Temporary Licence model across four regimes, Phoenix Unit opening at HMP Aylesbury, and strengthened recall processes with enhanced staff training.
- HMPPS continues to face sustained pressures on prison estate and probation service; Parole Board efficiency identified as critical factor in prisoner experience.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Lord Timpson, Andy Slaughter MP, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Public Protection Casework Section (PPCS), Parole Board, Secretary of State for Justice
Notable line
“… the number of people serving the sentence in the community has fallen by over two-thirds following the implementation of these changes.”
Key Quotes
“… the number of IPP prisoners who have never been released reduced 11% from the previous year to 896. The number of IPP prisoners in custody following recall reduced 8% from the previous year, to 1,433.”
“… the number of people serving the sentence in the community has fallen by over two-thirds following the implementation of these changes.”
“It is important to recognise that HMPPS continues to face a range of operational challenges, particularly in the context of sustained pressures on the Prison Estate and the Probation Service.”
“The efficiency of the Parole Board remains a critical factor in the experience of those serving IPP sentences.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗