Independent campaigner calls for end to indefinite IPP sentences
Amy-Clare Martin, who spent three years investigating indefinite prison sentences, argues public protection and justice can be balanced, backing Andy Burnham's push for reform.
A journalist who spent three years investigating the scandal of indefinite prison sentences has called for urgent reform, arguing that protecting the public does not have to come at the cost of fairness. Amy-Clare Martin, who led The Independent's campaign to end Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, said the system has «played with people's lives» and must be overhauled.
IPP sentences were introduced in 2005 and abolished in 2012, but thousands of prisoners remain detained under them. The sentences were designed to keep dangerous offenders behind bars until they were no longer considered a risk, but critics say many prisoners have been left without a clear path to release, with some serving far longer than their original tariff.
Martin said her investigation involved interviewing dozens of prisoners, their families, and legal experts. She argued that the current system is both unjust and ineffective, and that it is possible to balance public safety with a fair and just approach. Her comments come as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has taken up the cause, calling for action to address the scandal.
Burnham has been vocal in his criticism of IPP sentences, describing them as a stain on the justice system. He has backed calls for a review of existing cases and for measures to give prisoners a clearer route to release. Martin said Burnham is right to tackle the problem, and that political will is now needed to deliver change.
The campaign has highlighted cases of prisoners who have completed their minimum term but remain locked up because they cannot prove they are no longer dangerous. Many have no access to the rehabilitation programmes that would allow them to demonstrate progress, creating a Catch-22 situation that leaves them trapped in the system.
Martin said the solution lies in a combination of measures, including resentencing prisoners whose tariffs have expired, improving access to rehabilitation, and ensuring that parole decisions are based on evidence rather than fear. She acknowledged the need to protect the public from serious offenders, but insisted that indefinite detention without meaningful review is not the answer.
The issue has gained renewed attention in recent months, with campaigners and politicians from across the spectrum calling for reform. The Ministry of Justice has said it is committed to reducing the number of IPP prisoners and has introduced measures to speed up their progress through the system, but critics argue that progress has been too slow.
Martin's investigation has been credited with bringing the issue back into the public eye and putting pressure on the government to act. She said the stories of the prisoners she met have stayed with her, and that the campaign will continue until the system is changed.
«These are people whose lives have been put on hold, often for years after their minimum term has expired,» she said. «It is a scandal that has played with people's lives, and it is time for the government to fix it.»
