Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal
Podcast series charting the #IPP prisoner scandal. Listen on #Acast #ApplePodcasts #Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Today there are nearly 3,000 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, 87 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’ and ‘psychological torture’. But most people have never heard of it…
In this ‘tragically brilliant’ and hard hitting multi-part podcast series, the investigative reporter Sam Asumadu is 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.
Get in touch on X, TikTok and Instagram @Trapped_pod
Trapped Substack: https://trappedpodcast.substack.com/
If you want to do something, you can tell a friend to listen to this series: knowledge is power and the more who know, the harder it is for injustice to take place.
If you want to do something more active, you can write to your MP and tell them to raise questions about prisoners serving IPPs in parliament.
Search the hashtag #IPPScandal on social media for more info.
For more information about the Campaign for IPP Justice: visit UNGRIPP www.ungripp.com/ | @UNGRIPP and IPP Committee in Action www.ippcommitteeinaction.com/ | @ActionIpp
Reporter: Samantha Asumadu @SamanthaAsumadu
Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg
Producer: Steve Langridge @SMLANGERS
Consultant: Hank Rossi
A Zinc Media Group / Ear Worm Production for The Institute of Now
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Update frequency
- every 18 days
- Average duration
- 34 minutes
- Episodes
- 18
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
A Poisoned Chalice
An update on Roddy and Rob’s story.
First, we must pass on some heartbreaking news about Josh McRae, whose story we featured in Trapped Episode 16. Josh tragically died at HMP Long Lartin, aged 34 in …
Indefinite Injustice
Theresa and Josh’s story.
Today we hear from Theresa, whose son Josh has been serving an IPP sentence since he was 18. Josh was sentenced to an IPP in 2008 for GBH, he’s now 34. When Sam meets Theres…
Prison Crisis: The Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones CBE Speaks...
Today’s episode is an exclusive interview with Martin Jones CBE, who was appointed His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation in March 2024. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of the Parole Board …
The Recall ‘Merry-Go-Round'
Rob and Sara’s story. Sam investigates the impact of recall on IPP prisoners in the community. Change is finally coming - how will it affect them?
Rob was given an IPP sentence in 2008 and he’s been…
A Perfect Storm
Mary and Martin Myer’s story. We also hear from two people who head up their unions, working with IPP prisoners on the front line: the prison officers and prisoner governors.
Martin Myers comes from a…
Torture Sentences
Wayne Bell’s story, plus Sam speaks to Dr Alice Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture about her intervention in the campaign for IPP justice.
Today Sam travels to Manchester to speak to Alana Bel…
Prisoners of Politics
The inside story of the measures being taken by members of the House of Lords for IPP prisoners in the current parliamentary Victims and Prisoners Bill.
We join Sam on 11th March 2024, three months a…
What Does Hope Look Like?
The IPP sentence has created a sense of hopelessness amongst prisoners, leading to poor mental health, self-harm and numerous suicides, so we are ending this series by asking ‘what does hope look lik…
Set up to Fail
Nicole, Madison and Matthew Price's stories.
Nicole and Madison both served Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. Now out on licence, Sam meets these two women in Parliament, whilst tryi…
Walking on Eggshells
What's life like for IPP prisoners on licence? Mark Conway and Andrew Morris both describe it as ‘walking on eggshells’.
Mark Conway intervened in the terror attack at London Bridge in 2019, tackling…
Appealing the Sentence: IH’s Story
How IH fought and won the legal appeal against his DPP sentence.
IH is one of the few people who has successfully appealed against his DPP sentence. DPP stands for ‘Detention for Public Protection’, i…
Bogus Diagnosis
Bernadette and Abdulahi's story, plus Sam explores mental health treatment for IPPs and the now controversial Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway.
Sam travels to Cardiff to meet Bernadette, wh…
'Dear Tommy': The Inquest
Donna and Tommy’s story and why so many IPP serving prisoners have taken their own lives.
Tommy Nicol was serving an IPP sentence for robbery and when his tariff expired and he still wasn’t released f…
A Catch-22
Roddy and Robert Russell’s story, plus Sam explores why IPP serving prisoners are finding it so hard to get released by the parole board.
Roddy Russell first found out what an IPP sentence was in 2011…
Tough on Crime
Shirley and Shaun’s story, plus Sam digs into the history of the IPP sentence, what has made it such a failure?
Shirley Debono has been campaigning against IPPs (Imprisonment for Public Protection) fo…
A Kafkaesque Maze
Sam reports on Aaron and Cherrie’s story and the ‘Kafkaesque maze’ of the offending behaviour programmes.
Aaron Graham is the longest straight serving IPP prisoner. He's has been in prison for ninetee…
Ghost Prisoners
What are IPPs sentences and why are they so destructive?
It's the 27th of April 2023. We join reporter Sam Asumadu as she takes us back to the time when she first heard about IPPs (Imprisonment for P…
Trapped Trailer
Podcast series charting the UK #IPP prisoner scandal. Listen on #Acast #ApplePodcasts #Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Today there are nearly 3,000 people trapped in British prisons on the…