Smash IPP
Donation protected
Smash IPP is a grassroots campaign for IPP prisoners, who are trapped in the system by a draconian sentence brought in by David Blunkett as part of the UK Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Under IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) you had to complete a minimum 'tariff' (time served), which was the maximum amount for the crime, and then after that you were in limbo before going before a parole board. It was a life sentence through the back door, which was given to many people who had committed minor crimes. The vast majority were from working class backgrounds. Many had also experienced substance misuse, racism and other forms of oppression.
Watch a short film about the sentence here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldILWJ5BVWM
Due to the uncertainty of not knowing when or if they'll ever be released, the harm caused to families and to the prisoners themselves is intolerable. IPPs are more likely to harm themselves than other types of prisoner. 139 have taken their own lives so far.
The Guardian: Sister of IPP prisoner who took his own life calls for urgent action
IPP prisoners are also vulnerable to bullying by other prisoners and staff because of their status, and even when they're released they have a life licence, so can be recalled at any time for any infringement of their licence - this does not necessarily mean committing a crime. It also means people can tell lies about you.
Due to human rights concerns, the IPP sentence was formally abolished in 2012, but not retrospectively. 2,600 prisoners still remain incarcerated and unable to get out due to parole board deferrals, being told to complete useless courses with years long waiting times, and sheer neglect by the state, who are more concerned with expanding the prison estate through building new prisons than they are in releasing and supporting vulnerable prisoners.
Smash IPP gives IPPs hope through our letter-writing campaigns, zine, practical support for prisoners and their families, advice, media work, awareness-raising, demonstrations and phone campaigns. Many of us have family and friends who are IPP: we know what we're talking about.
See more about what we do on our website www.smashipp.org.uk, Facebook/SmashIPP and Twitter @SmashIPP
But we can't do this without money. We urgently need funds to pay for photocopying, letter writing, banners, transport to meetings and demonstrations, venue hire and practical support for prisoners.
We are independent of the prison system, so we don't get any money from them or any other state institution. This is because we oppose all oppression (racism, sexism, transphobia etc) and ultimately want to see a world without prisons. www.prisonabolition.org
We rely on donations from ordinary people like you.
Please give whatever you can afford, even if it is just £5. To an IPP prisoner or loved one this could make all the difference in the world.
Thank you for reading.
Under IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) you had to complete a minimum 'tariff' (time served), which was the maximum amount for the crime, and then after that you were in limbo before going before a parole board. It was a life sentence through the back door, which was given to many people who had committed minor crimes. The vast majority were from working class backgrounds. Many had also experienced substance misuse, racism and other forms of oppression.
Watch a short film about the sentence here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldILWJ5BVWM
Due to the uncertainty of not knowing when or if they'll ever be released, the harm caused to families and to the prisoners themselves is intolerable. IPPs are more likely to harm themselves than other types of prisoner. 139 have taken their own lives so far.
The Guardian: Sister of IPP prisoner who took his own life calls for urgent action
IPP prisoners are also vulnerable to bullying by other prisoners and staff because of their status, and even when they're released they have a life licence, so can be recalled at any time for any infringement of their licence - this does not necessarily mean committing a crime. It also means people can tell lies about you.
Due to human rights concerns, the IPP sentence was formally abolished in 2012, but not retrospectively. 2,600 prisoners still remain incarcerated and unable to get out due to parole board deferrals, being told to complete useless courses with years long waiting times, and sheer neglect by the state, who are more concerned with expanding the prison estate through building new prisons than they are in releasing and supporting vulnerable prisoners.
Smash IPP gives IPPs hope through our letter-writing campaigns, zine, practical support for prisoners and their families, advice, media work, awareness-raising, demonstrations and phone campaigns. Many of us have family and friends who are IPP: we know what we're talking about.
See more about what we do on our website www.smashipp.org.uk, Facebook/SmashIPP and Twitter @SmashIPP
But we can't do this without money. We urgently need funds to pay for photocopying, letter writing, banners, transport to meetings and demonstrations, venue hire and practical support for prisoners.
We are independent of the prison system, so we don't get any money from them or any other state institution. This is because we oppose all oppression (racism, sexism, transphobia etc) and ultimately want to see a world without prisons. www.prisonabolition.org
We rely on donations from ordinary people like you.
Please give whatever you can afford, even if it is just £5. To an IPP prisoner or loved one this could make all the difference in the world.
Thank you for reading.
Organizer and beneficiary
Smash IPP
Organizer
Solvi Goard
Beneficiary
