Guidance

Imprisonment for Public Protection Guidance (v2.0 August 2026)

This guidance provides key considerations for panels undertaking parole reviews of individuals serving IPP or DPP sentences.

• From: Parole Board
• Published: 20 February 2025

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

IPP Guidance - August 2026

PDF, 819 KB, 69 pages

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Details

This guidance provides Parole Board panels with points to consider for both when undertaking parole reviews for prisoners sentenced to an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentence and for referrals to consider IPP/DPP Licence Terminations.

The guidance assists Parole Board panels with identifying ways of working to effectively manage such cases fairly and justly, whilst maintaining a focus on risk and the test for release and taking public protection as the over-riding priority.

The guidance has been revised to:

• Reflect legislative changes brought in by the Sentencing Act 2026 and amendments to the Parole Board Rules
• Reflect the changes from the recent Hanson Judgment (July 2026) in relation to IPP licence terminations and oral hearings
• Align with the recently updated HMPPS IPP Action Plan

All other versions of the IPP guidance and associated documents have now been withdrawn.

The Prison Reform Trust has produced helpful information about the IPP sentence, which can be read on the Prison Reform Trust website.

Further information relating to IPP licence terminations, produced jointly by the Howard League for Penal Reform, the Prison Reform Trust and Prisoners’ Advice Service can be read on The Howard League website.

Published 20 February 2025