Guidance

Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) Guidance

Member guidance on IPP/DPP sentenced individuals.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

IPP Guidance (February 2025 V 1.2)

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Annex A Parole Board Rules 2019 (as amended) Part 4

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Details

This guidance provides Parole Board panels with points to consider for both when undertaking parole reviews for prisoners sentenced to an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentence and for referrals to consider IPP/DPP Licence Terminations.

This guidance replaces the interim version issued in October 2024 which has now been withdrawn.

The guidance assists Parole Board panels with identifying ways of working to effectively manage such cases fairly and justly, whilst maintaining a focus on risk and the test for release and taking public protection as the over-riding priority.

This guidance additionally provides information to panels about the current initiatives and approaches taken by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) colleagues for progressing IPPs and how these might support the panel when considering the test for release or a move to open conditions.

Further guidance can be found in the licence termination legal guide below, produced jointly by the Howard League for Penal Reform, the Prison Reform Trust and Prisoners’ Advice Service. The Howard League | Terminating your IPP licence: a legal guide

This replaces all previous Parole Board guidance on IPP/DPP sentences.

Updates to this page

Published 20 February 2025

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