Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal

Set up to Fail

Listen on

Episode notes

Nicole and Madison were both in prison on Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. Now out on licence, Sam met these two women in Parliament, whilst trying to lobby their MPs. She sits down with them to hear about life inside female prisons as an IPP serving prisoner and how they are both doing now. As of December 2022, there were 40 women in custody serving IPP sentences. This includes 12 women who have never been released and a further 28 women who had been recalled. It’s rare to hear their stories, so we are keen to bring them to light.

Sam also talks to two lawyers, Emma McClure and Andrew Sperling, who’s firm had been representing, Matthew Price, who was another IPP prisoner on licence when he took his own life in May 2023. Emma was the last person to speak to him. Andrew and Emma describe the terror that Matthew faced knowing he could be recalled back to prison at any time by his probation officer. A situation that is not unique for IPP serving prisoners on licence. To date, 19 people serving IPP sentences in the community have taken their own lives since 2020.

Get in touch on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram @Trapped_Pod

For more info on the campaign for justice for IPPs: visit UNGRIPP: www.ungripp.com / @UNGRIPP

and IPP Committee in Action www.ippcommitteeinaction.com / @ActionIPP

Contributors in order of appearance:

Madison, IPP prisoner on licence

Nicole, IPP prisoner on licence

Emma McClure, Consultant Solicitor with SL5 Legal @[email protected]

Andrew Sperling, Solicitor-Advocate and Managing Director of SL5 Legal www.SL5Legal.co.uk / @AndrewSperling

Production credits:

Reporter: Samantha Asumadu @SamanthaAsumadu

Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg

Producer: Steve Langridge @SMLANGERS

Consultant: Hank Rossi

A Zinc Media Production for the Institute of Now

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.