Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal
The Institute of Now
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About This Podcast
Podcast series charting the #IPP prisoner scandal. Listen on #Acast #ApplePodcasts #Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Today there are over 2,500 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, 95 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’, ‘psychological torture’ and 'state sponsored torture'. But many people have never heard of it…
In this ‘tragically brilliant’ and hard hitting multi-part podcast series, the investigative reporter Sam Asumadu and Roddy Russell, whose brother Robert is serving an IPP sentence, are 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.
Production Team:
Reporters: Samantha Asumadu @SamanthaAsumadu | Roddy Russell @1roddyRussell
Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg
Producer: Steve Langridge @SMLANGERS
Consultant: Hank Rossi
Ear Worm Productions for The Institute of Now
Get involved:
➕ Follow Trapped on X, TikTok, Facebook or Instagram @Trapped_Pod
🔎 Search #IPPScandal for more stories.
🗣️ Read more about the IPP campaign: UNGRIPP | www.ungripp.com | @UNGRIPP | IPP Committee In Action @ActionIpp | injustice_of_ipp
✔️ Like, follow and share this podcast to get people listening: knowledge is power and the more who know, the harder it is for injustice to take place.
✍️ Write to your MP and ask them to raise questions about IPPs in Parliament
⬇️ Download the Trapped series episode transcripts here: https://drive.google.com
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Recent Episodes
S1E23 Trapped: Eps 17-22 Recap
This is a recap of Trapped, Episodes 17- 22.Playlist:0:00 The opening of Trapped Ep. 17: A Poisoned Chalice features archive of Lord Tony Woodley addressing the Lord’s Chamber about the IPP…
S1E22 22. Arbitrary Detention
Joe Outlaw’s trial, an update on Aaron Graham’s story and a landmark complaint to the United Nations. Roddy Russell travels to Middlesbrough to follow the trial of Joe Outlaw in July 2025, an…
S1E21 21. Totalitarian State
Former Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, and retired judges, Sir John Saunders and Simon Tonking, speak candidly about the IPP scandal. Alex Chalk, who served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of…
S1E20 20. Duty of Care: "Let My People Go"
An update on Thomas Whites’s story and his sister Clara gets ordained as a minister at Church on the Street. In this episode we hear from Clara White, who updates us on her brother Thomas, who was…
S1E19 19. A Failed Experiment
The IPP campaign in the spotlight: campaigners stage a protest outside Parliament, while inside, Lord Thomas backs new recommendations to end IPPs.The Trapped team report on two new IPP campaigns:…
S1E18 18. Destroyed Hope
An update on Victoria’s story. Plus the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, Adrian Usher, Chief Executive of the Howard League, Andrea Coomber, and leading barrister Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, speak about…
S1E17 17. A Poisoned Chalice
Roddy Russell meets Lord Tony Woodley and former Prison Chaplain, David Kirk Beedon, who are both campaigning against indeterminate sentences.First, we must pass on some heartbreaking news about Josh…
S1E16 16. Indefinite Injustice
Theresa and Josh’s story, plus Roddy Russell meets the Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons and delivers a letter of protest to 10 Downing St. Today we hear from Theresa, whose son Josh has been serving an…
S1E15 15. Prison Crisis: The Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones CBE Speaks...
An exclusive interview with Martin Jones CBE, appointed His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation in March 2024. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of the Parole Board from 2015.Sam meets Martin…
S1E14 14. 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…
S1E13 13. 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…
S1E12 12. 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…
S1E11 11. Prisoners of Politics
The inside story of the measures being taken by members of the House of Lords for IPP prisoners in the parliamentary Victims and Prisoner's Bill. We join Sam on 11th March 2024, three months after…
S1E10 10. 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 asking ‘what does hope look like’ for IPP serving…
S1E9 9. Set up to Fail
Nicole and Madison's stories and the tragic tale of how and why Matthew Price took his own life.Nicole and Madison both served Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. Now out on licence,…
S1E8 8. 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…
S1E7 7. 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’,…
S1E6 6. 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,…
S1E5 5. '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…
S1E4 4. 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…
Frequently Asked Questions
Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal has published 24 episodes since May 2023, covering topics in Documentary, News.
Trapped: The IPP Prisoner Scandal is currently active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 35m.
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