Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has signaled a significant push to reform the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentencing scheme, labeling the policy an ongoing injustice. IPP sentences, which were officially abolished in 2012 but were not applied retroactively, allowed for offenders to be held indefinitely if they were deemed a risk to the public, even after their minimum tariff had expired.

Burnham’s intervention highlights the plight of thousands of prisoners who remain incarcerated under these legacy terms. Advocates for reform argue that many of these individuals have served time far exceeding their original sentences, often without a clear pathway to release. By bringing the issue back into the political spotlight, Burnham suggests that resolving these cases could alleviate some of the current pressure on the UK’s overcrowded prison system by freeing up thousands of spaces.

While the government has previously resisted broad changes to these sentences due to concerns over public safety, the debate continues to center on the balance between risk management and human rights. Burnham’s stance aligns with a growing coalition of legal experts and campaigners who argue that the indefinite nature of these sentences is fundamentally unfair. The discussion remains focused on whether the state has a moral obligation to review these cases, given that the policy was deemed unfit for purpose over a decade ago.