Recurring concern

Failure to provide timely review and progression for IPP prisoners

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First reported 20 Dec 2024•Latest report 20 Oct 2025

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in arrangements for reviewing and progressing prisoners serving IPP sentences, including timely parole-board or sentence reviews, review of continued detention, access to relevant progression programmes or therapeutic units, and coordination of information and support needed for progression.

Not included

  • Excludes general prison mental-health, suicide-prevention or welfare concerns where the IPP review or progression process is not the deficient control.
  • Excludes ordinary parole or release processes for prisoners without an IPP sentence.
  • Excludes errors in sentence calculation, recall or release-date administration unless they directly impair review or progression of an IPP sentence.
  • Excludes failures occurring after a timely and adequate IPP review and progression decision when the remaining issue is implementation of that decision.
Reports
2

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
3

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2024–2025

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
5

Described in published responses

Reports over time

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

HM Prison and Probation Service2
Ministry of Justice2
Coldingley Prison1
NHS England1
Parole Board1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. East Riding and Hull

    AI-generated summary

    Scott Stephen Berry · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Scott Stephen Berry was a prisoner serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence when, after expressing suicidal thoughts, he was found hanging on 12 October 2023. He was resuscitated and taken to hospital but died on 21 October 2023 after sustaining a hypoxic brain injury. The principal concern was that unreleased IPP prisoners may face prolonged detention, limited access to progression or therapeutic support, poor mental health and little hope of release, creating a risk of future deaths.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of access to Offender Delivery Programmes or therapeutic and progression units for unreleased IPP prisoners

    Wider context from the report

    “However, there still remains a large number of unreleased IPP prisoners in prison. For those who remain detained in prison, some many years after their original tariff, there is still a long period for them to wait for a review. These prisoners are, in many cases, still waiting for parole board review and not all have access to Offender Delivery Programmes or therapeutic and progression units to assist them. These prisoners are suffering with their mental health and still have little hope of release. If action is not taken with regard to those still serving these sentences in prison, then there is a risk of future deaths occurring. ”

    Source location

    Scott Stephen Berry · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Delays in parole board review for unreleased IPP prisoners

    Wider context from the report

    “However, there still remains a large number of unreleased IPP prisoners in prison. For those who remain detained in prison, some many years after their original tariff, there is still a long period for them to wait for a review. These prisoners are, in many cases, still waiting for parole board review and not all have access to Offender Delivery Programmes or therapeutic and progression units to assist them. These prisoners are suffering with their mental health and still have little hope of release. If action is not taken with regard to those still serving these sentences in prison, then there is a risk of future deaths occurring. ”

    Source location

    Scott Stephen Berry · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Publish and operate Progression Panel arrangements to place IPP prisoners on appropriate progression pathways with timely interventions.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• We published the Progression Panel Policy Framework in July, and have already seen a significant number of panels recorded. These panels, comprising of HMPPS staff and wider partner agencies, ensure that those serving IPP sentences are on the right progression pathway, with access to the right interventions, at the right time.”

    Source location

    Response from HM Prison & Probation Service
    Page 4 · response
    Published 26 January 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Create the Phoenix Unit at HMP Aylesbury for IPP prisoners with red RAG ratings who are struggling to progress.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• HMP Aylesbury is in the process of creating the Phoenix Unit, which will be a bespoke unit dedicated to support IPP prisoners with a red RAG rating who are struggling to progress in their sentence.”

    Source location

    Response from HM Prison & Probation Service
    Page 4 · response
    Published 26 January 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Update the Generic Parole Process Policy Framework to introduce presumed review intervals for IPP and DPP prisoners.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “I note that you raised concerns that IPP prisoners are waiting for a Parole Board review. The priority when listing cases is a matter for the Independent Parole Board. Nonetheless, HMPPS updated the Generic Parole Process Policy Framework in February 2025 and introduced a presumption for an 18-month period between parole reviews for IPP prisoners and 12 months for DPP (youth equivalent of IPP sentence) prisoners¹.”

    Source location

    Response from HM Prison & Probation Service
    Page 2 · response
    Published 26 January 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Streamline recall documentation and require consideration of Risk Assessed Recall Review suitability.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• HMPPS have streamlined recall documentation and added a direct request to consider suitability for Risk Assessed Recall Review (RARR) ensuring that the potential for a swifter re-release is firmly in the mind of the Probation Officer completing it.”

    Source location

    Response from HM Prison & Probation Service
    Page 4 · response
    Published 26 January 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Run the recall referral trial to extend the referral period and allow more time to consider Risk Assessed Recall Review.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• The recall referral trial has begun; this will extend the period of time in which IPP prisoners must be referred to the Parole Board following recall with the intent of allowing more time for consideration of RARR.”

    Source location

    Response from HM Prison & Probation Service
    Page 4 · response
    Published 26 January 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Priority for listing IPP parole reviews is determined by the independent Parole Board, not HMPPS.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “I note that you raised concerns that IPP prisoners are waiting for a Parole Board review. The priority when listing cases is a matter for the Independent Parole Board. Nonetheless, HMPPS updated the Generic Parole Process Policy Framework in February 2025 and introduced a presumption for an 18-month period between parole reviews for IPP prisoners and 12 months for DPP (youth equivalent of IPP sentence) prisoners¹.”

    Source location

    Response from HM Prison & Probation Service
    Page 2 · response
    Published 26 January 2026

    Open published response
  2. Surrey

    AI-generated summary

    Haydar Jefferies · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Haydar Jefferies was detained at HMP Coldingley and developed severe depression and psychosis before self-ligaturing in his cell on 1 March 2023; he was resuscitated but died at hospital on 5 March 2023 from hypoxic brain injury and pneumonia. The principal concerns included failures to record and share risk-relevant information, refer him promptly to mental health services, provide an adequate mental health assessment and obtain appropriate clinical care and supervision during his acute deterioration.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of a process to expedite face-to-face parole hearings for eligible IPP prisoners

    Wider context from the report

    “8. Imprisonment under an IPP is a recognised suicide risk. The delay in dealing with the IPP parole hearing exacerbated the risk. There is currently no process in place to expedite face to face parole hearings for IPP prisoners when allegations leading to their recall have been withdrawn and no criminal action is being considered. ”

    Source location

    Haydar Jefferies · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 5 · concerns

    Open source report
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Data last updated 7 September 2026