Conflict · UK detention · ArchiefUN Condemns UK IPP Sentences as Torture, Declares Five Prisoners Unlawfully DetainedGeschreven 7 september 2026 om 21:22 UTCKijkenTranscript0:00A United Nations Human Rights body has0:02found that [music] five prisoners in0:03England and Wales are being held0:05unlawfully and is condemning the UK's0:08indefinite imprisonment for public0:09[music] protection sentences as0:11psychological torture. The UN working0:13group urged the [music] government to0:15launch a full independent investigation0:17calling the IPP system a structural0:19injustice. The IPP sentence was0:21introduced in 2005 and abolished in0:232012, [music]0:24but abolition was not retroactive. 2,3290:28offenders remain in prison under a law0:30that no longer exists. Over the years,0:32140 IPP prisoners have died in custody.0:35[music] One of the five named by the UN0:37is Shawn. He was 18 when he committed a0:40robbery of a mobile phone. Now 39, he0:43[music] has spent more than half his0:44life behind bars.0:51Shawn's mother, [music] Shirley Debono,0:54has campaigned since 2008.0:56This week she took her first holiday in0:586 [music] years hoping the UN report1:00would mean her son would be with her. He1:02was not.1:08Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged1:10to examine [music] IPP cases under1:12prison reform measures, but Shirley1:14Debono says she has heard pledges1:15before. In 2022, she called for all IPP1:18prisoners to be released. [music] Four1:19years and five Prime Ministers later,1:21she says it is becoming too painful to1:23have hope. The UN working group noted1:25[music] that the issue was first raised1:27in UN forums 3 years ago and nothing has1:29been done. Shirley Debono warns that IPP1:32[music] prisoners do not have years to1:34wait for a review that could take years.Lees het artikelTijdlijn van het verhaalHeyDexDe korte video ↗
