Indefinite jail terms putting lives at risk, warns coroner

Call for review follows the case of a man handed a 23-month sentence who took his life after 17 years trapped behind bars

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

A coroner has criticised the “inhumane and indefensible” treatment of a prisoner who took his own life after serving 17 years for a 23-month jail term. Scott Rider, 45, who was one of Britain’s longest-serving inmates, was given an indefinite sentence in 2005 but ended up never being released.

The controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences – in which offenders were handed minimum jail terms but no maximum – were scrapped in 2012 amid human rights concerns, but not for those already sentenced, leaving thousands languishing in jail for years beyond their original prison terms.

In light of Mr Rider’s death, senior coroner Tom Osborne issued a stark warning to the government, calling for a review of all those affected by IPPs. “On any consideration of the circumstances of Mr Rider’s death, one has to conclude that his treatment was inhumane and indefensible, and that if action is not taken to review all prisoners sentenced to IPP, then there is a risk of further deaths occurring,” he said.

Mr Rider’s heartbroken sister is calling for the government to act to save the lives of others trapped under the “inhumane” jail terms. At least 90 IPP prisoners have died by suicide. Her concerns were echoed by MPs, campaigners and prison experts, who urged Justice Minister Alex Chalk to reconsider reviewing all IPP sentences.

Lord David Blunkett told The Independent the policy, brought in when he was home secretary under Tony Blair, turned out to be a “disaster” and said Mr Rider’s case was incredibly serious.

The tragic case comes as: