Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal copertina

Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal

Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal

Di: The Institute of Now
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Podcast series charting the #IPP prisoner scandal. Listen on #Acast #ApplePodcasts #Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.


Today there are over 2,500 people trapped in British prisons on the now abolished indeterminate IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) sentence, many for minor crimes like stealing a mobile phone. None of them know when they are getting out, or whether their IPP sentence could mean life in prison. To date, 95 IPP serving prisoners, with a lack of certainty and losing hope, have taken their own lives. The IPP has been called a ‘stain on the British justice system’, ‘psychological torture’ and 'state sponsored torture'. But many people have never heard of it…


In this ‘tragically brilliant’ and hard hitting multi-part podcast series, the investigative reporter Sam Asumadu and Roddy Russell, whose brother Robert is serving an IPP sentence, are digging deep into the plight of prisoners serving IPPs, and their families, to find out what has gone wrong with this sentence and to shine a light into the dark corners of the IPP story.

Featuring contributions from prisoners serving IPP sentences, their families, campaigners, criminologists, psychologists, journalists, lawyers, retired judges, MPs and Peers.


Production Team:


Reporters: Samantha Asumadu @SamanthaAsumadu | Roddy Russell @1roddyRussell


Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg


Producer: Steve Langridge @SMLANGERS


Consultant: Hank Rossi


Ear Worm Productions for The Institute of Now


Get involved:


➕ Follow Trapped on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram @Trapped_Pod


🔎 Search #IPPScandal for more stories.

🗣️ Read more about the IPP campaign: UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp | injustice_of_ipp

✔️ Like, follow and share this podcast to get people listening: knowledge is power and the more who know, the harder it is for injustice to take place.


✍️ Write to your MP and ask them to raise questions about IPPs in Parliament


⬇️ Download the Trapped series episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com


___

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

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Episodi
  • 24: Do They Have a Plan?

    24: Do They Have a Plan?
    Oct 9 2026
    The PM has said IPPs are set to end, but when will this happen and what’s the plan?We join Roddy Russell after a busy summer for IPP campaigners. The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to end the injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, with the government pledging to bring forward legislation to abolish the sentence ‘by the end of this parliament’. After years of campaigning, this marks a dramatic political shift. But asks Roddy, whose brother Rob has been serving an IPP sentence since 2009 and has never been released, what happens next? And does the government have a plan to finally free those still trapped by IPPs?This announcement follows two major interventions by the United Nations on IPP sentences in 2026. In July, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that five IPP prisoners were being held arbitrarily, while the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture warned that the prolonged uncertainty and psychological deterioration associated with IPPs may amount to psychological torture. We hear from campaigners, lawyers and experts about what these findings mean and whether they will increase pressure on the UK government to act quickly and decisively. Roddy also meets Professor Roddy Brett, a former UN policymaker, to understand how the United Nations can influence the UK when its findings are not legally binding. After years of shattered hopes, what will it take to make sure this latest political promise becomes a reality?Read the opinion adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 105th session, 23rd March–1st April 2026, concerning five IPP prisoners here:https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/detention-wg/opinions/session105/a-hrc-wgad-2026-16-united-kingdom-great-britain.pdfRead the July 2026 Press Release from the UN Special Rapporteurs, concerning IPPs here:https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/07/uk-must-end-ipp-sentences-psychological-harm-continues-un-expertsGet in touch on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram | @Trapped_PodFor more info about the IPP campaign: visit UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp | injustice_of_ippContributors in order of appearance:Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, heard in archiveAlex Norris, Lord Chancellor, heard in archiveRichard Garside, Director of the Centre for Crime and Justice StudiesBernadette Emerson, IPP campaigner and wife of Abdullahi “Mo” Suleman, who has been serving an IPP sentence since 2005Dr Muin Boase, barrister at Great James Street ChambersJoshua Rozenberg, Legal commentatorDr Felicity Gerry KC, barrister at Libertas ChambersDr Alice Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, heard in archiveRoddy Brett, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Bristol Nick Timothy, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, heard in archiveProduction Credits:Presenter: Roddy Russell | @1roddyRussellExecutive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @MelissafitzgProducer: Steve Langridge | @SMLANGERSConsultant: Hank RossiAn Ear Worm Production for the Institute of Now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    35 min
  • Trapped: Eps 17-22 Recap

    Trapped: Eps 17-22 Recap
    Mar 5 2026
    This is a recap of Trapped, Episodes 17- 22.Playlist:0:00 The opening of Trapped Ep. 17: A Poisoned Chalice features archive of Lord Tony Woodley addressing the Lord’s Chamber about the IPP scandal. Our host, Roddy Russell introduces himself as someone whose brother Rob is serving an IPP sentence and the purpose of this episode in which he meets Lord Woodley to find out more about the Private Members’ Bill Lord Woodley is tabling on IPPs.1:22 Ep 17, Roddy speaks to the former prison chaplain David Kirk Beeden about the public perception of punishment and prisoners. 3:17 Ep 17, Roddy highlights the lack of will from politicians to make a concerted change and free the remaining IPP prisoners. But in the House of Lords, Tony Woodley tells Roddy they will not give up.4:15 Trapped Ep 18: Destroyed Hope features Victoria, an IPP prisoner on licence, whose story is at the heart of this episode. 5:30 In Ep18 we hear from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Adrian Usher on his intervention on the risk factors of IPPs and the uncertainly these prisoners face around recall. We hear from Victoria again who tells us she was recalled due to an inability to access her ADHD medication. The Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, Andrea Coomber tells us about the continued and serious problem of recall for IPP prisoners.8:18 Leading criminal barrister Dr Felicity Gerry speaks powerfully in Ep 18 about the mental health problems of IPP prisoners, calling the IPP system ‘state sponsored torture’. 10:40 In Trapped Episode 19: A Failed Experiment we hear from IPP campaigners who are demonstrating outside parliament. Former IPP prisoner Andrew Morris tells us how it will take another 11 years before all IPP prisoners are finally freed, which he calls ‘so unforgivable’. Deborah Ingram says she is not going to give up until her son Levi is released. Inside Parliament we hear from Lord John Thomas who is campaigning to release all the IPP prisoners. Andrea Coomber says these prisoners need to have the certainty of a release date for their anguish to end.12:17 In Trapped Episode 20: Duty of Care “Let My People Go”, Roddy speaks to Clara White, who like him has a brother, Thomas White, who is serving an IPP sentence and has never been released. 13:22 Episode 20, Bishop Mick Flemming from Church on the Street explains how hard IPP campaigning is. 15:02 In Trapped Episode 21: Totalitarian State we hear from two retired Judges retired judges, Sir John Saunders and Simon Tonking who now regret their role in imposing IPP sentences.15:52 Former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC speaks to Trapped Ep 21 about the moral and political complexity of IPPs, calling imposing the sentence “almost totalitarian”.17:17 In Trapped Episode 22: Arbitrary Detention, we hear from leading barrister Dr Muin Boase about the landmark legal complaint he’s submitted to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Sept '25.18:07 In Trapped Ep 22 we hear from Cherrie Nichol, whose brother Aaron Graham is the longest IPP serving prisoner. She tells us about his release for the second time in June 2025 and how he was recalled back to prison after failing to return to his AP on time.Production Team: Presenter: Roddy Russell | @1roddyRussell Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @Melissafitzg Producer: Steve Langridge | @SMLANGERS Consultant: Hank Rossi An Ear Worm Production for the Institute of Now Get involved: ➕ Follow Trapped on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram @Trapped_Pod 🔎 Search #IPPScandal for more stories. 🗣️ Read more about the IPP campaign: UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp | injustice_of_ipp ✔️ Like, follow and share this podcast to get people listening: knowledge is power and the more who know, the harder it is for injustice to take place. ✍️ Write to your MP and ask them to raise questions about IPPs in Parliament ⬇️ Download the Trapped episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com_____ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    21 min
  • 22. Arbitrary Detention

    22. Arbitrary Detention
    Jan 22 2026
    Joe Outlaw’s trial, an update on Aaron Graham’s story and a landmark complaint to the United Nations. Roddy Russell travels to Middlesbrough to follow the trial of Joe Outlaw in July 2025, an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoner whose rooftop protests at HMP Manchester and HMP Franklin has brought renewed attention to one of the most controversial sentences in UK legal history. Joe argues that the mental torture caused by his indefinite sentence drove his actions, making this one of the first UK cases where IPP-related psychological duress is formally raised as a defence.Outside Teesside Crown Court, Roddy meets the family members, campaigners, and supporters who gather daily to support Joe. We hear how IPP sentences devastate mental health, fracture families, and trap people in a cycle of recall with no clear end point. Here Roddy also catches up with campaigner Cherrie Nichol, whose brother Aaron Graham is the longest IPP serving prisoner. Aaron’s repeated recalls, including being returned to prison after getting lost while trying to comply with licence conditions, illustrate how the system punishes vulnerability and untreated mental illness.We also hear about the landmark legal complaint submitted to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Sept '25, led by barrister and international law expert Dr Muin Boase. The submission argues that IPP prisoners are being arbitrarily detained in breach of International human rights law, due to the grossly disproportionate length and uncertainty of their sentences. Campaigners Shirley Debono and Bernadette Emerson travel to Downing Street with MPs and peers to deliver a letter supporting the complaint. Shirley speaks movingly about her son Shaun Lloyd, who remains trapped in the IPP system, and the devastating impact on his children.Outside Parliament, Lord Tony Woodley and Baroness Claire Fox speak to campaigners about the need for sustained political pressure. Could international scrutiny finally force the UK government to confront what many describe as one of the greatest stains on the modern justice system? How long can a country committed to human rights justify a sentence with no end?Read about the complaint here: https://greatjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Complaint-Against-the-UK-on-IPP-sentences.pdfContributors in order of appearance: Roddy Russell, brother of IPP serving prisoner Robert Mandy Outlaw, Joe Outlaw’s auntCherrie Nichol, IPP campaigner, sister of Aaron GrahamStacey Clough, IPP campaignerDr Muin Boase, Barrister and senior lecturer in International Law, University of DerbyShirley Debono – IPP campaigner, mother of Sean LloydLord Tony Woodley – Member of the House of LordsBaroness Claire Fox – Member of the House of LordsVoices in archive:Joe Outlaw, IPP PrisonerAaron Graham, IPP PrisonerProduction Team:Presenter: Roddy Russell | @1roddyRussellExecutive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @MelissafitzgProducer: Steve Langridge | @SMLANGERSConsultant: Hank RossiAn Ear Worm Production for the Institute of NowGet involved:➕ Follow Trapped on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram @Trapped_Pod 🔎 Search #IPPScandal for more stories. 🗣️ Read more about the IPP campaign: UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp | injustice_of_ipp ✔️ Like, follow and share this podcast to get people listening: knowledge is power and the more who know, the harder it is for injustice to take place. ✍️ Write to your MP and ask them to raise questions about IPPs in Parliament⬇️ Download the Trapped series episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com___ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    40 min
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