Prisoner trapped on IPP jail term took life after government refused to resentence

"Mr Gadd is among 94 IPP prisoners who have taken their own lives after losing hope of being freed from the open-ended jail term, which has been branded psychological torture by the UN. The sentences, which were scrapped in 2012, have left thousands trapped in jail with no release date, with some serving up to 22 times longer than their original tariff."

"A prisons watchdog found prison staff missed key warning signs before Mr Gadd's self-inflicted death on 9 March 2023 and said they needed to do more to recognise the increased risk of suicide and self-harm for IPP prisoners. Inspectors found HMP Bristol was one of the most unsafe' prisons in the country in 2023 (PA Archive)"

"His death came a month after the then-justice secretary Dominic Raab refused recommendations from the cross-party justice committee for all remaining IPP prisoners to be resentenced. Former conservative MP Sir Bob Neill, who was chair of the justice committee, said at the time that the government had missed an opportunity to right a wrong that has left nearly 3,000 people behind."

Keith Gadd died aged 60 inside category B HMP Bristol with no friends or family left to contact. He received an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence in 2006 and was never released despite serving almost five times his original tariff of three years and five months. IPP sentences were scrapped in 2012 but left thousands without release dates, with some serving up to 22 times longer than their tariff. Ninety-four IPP prisoners have taken their own lives. A prisons watchdog found staff missed warning signs before Gadd's self-inflicted death and urged better recognition of elevated suicide risk. The death followed a government refusal to implement cross-party recommendations to resentenced remaining IPP prisoners; campaigners say nearly 3,000 people remain affected. A PPO report recorded prior suicide attempts, anxiety, depression, and a 2021 risk assessment warning that Gadd needed ongoing monitoring.

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