The Continuing Cost of Indefinite Jail Terms and the Human Toll of a Failed System

The cost of imprisoning individuals serving abolished indefinite jail terms, termed "psychological torture," reached £145 million last year. This figure covers over 2,600 inmates on Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, some imprisoned for decades, even for minor crimes. This adds to an estimated £1.6 billion spent since the sentence's abolition.

Experts criticize the government's continued spending, calling it "fundamentally wrong" and "farcical," especially given the UN's condemnation. Cases highlight the devastating impact, with individuals serving excessive sentences for minor offenses.

At an average cost of £53,801 per prisoner, the state spent an estimated £145,773,810 in 2024. The IPP sentences, introduced in 2005 and abolished in 2012, were not applied retrospectively. The majority of prisoners are now over-tariff.

Campaigners report at least 94 IPP prisoner suicides. Successive governments have resisted calls for resentencing. A campaign group stated the damage is "irreversible" and that resentencing would save billions.

Experts and former prisoners condemn the waste of taxpayer money on these unjust sentences. The Ministry of Justice states that those remaining in custody are deemed too dangerous for release and that they are working to support them.