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Manchester bike robber jailed at 17 'gives up hope of release' | Manchester bike robber jailed at 17 'gives up hope of release' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man who remains in prison after he was jailed aged 17 for stealing a bike has given up hope of being released, his family has said. | A man who remains in prison after he was jailed aged 17 for stealing a bike has given up hope of being released, his family has said. |
Wayne Bell was given a now-obsolete type of indefinite sentence for robbery in 2007. | Wayne Bell was given a now-obsolete type of indefinite sentence for robbery in 2007. |
Now 29, he has suffered a mental breakdown and feels "trapped" after being repeatedly turned down for release, his relatives said. | Now 29, he has suffered a mental breakdown and feels "trapped" after being repeatedly turned down for release, his relatives said. |
The Parole Board said it was handling cases as quickly as possible. | |
Mr Bell received the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence in 2007 after he was arrested for taking a bike from a boy he assaulted in Withington, Manchester. | Mr Bell received the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence in 2007 after he was arrested for taking a bike from a boy he assaulted in Withington, Manchester. |
He was told he would serve a minimum sentence of four years for the crime. | He was told he would serve a minimum sentence of four years for the crime. |
Mr Bell's father, Carl, said his son had gone before the Parole Board every two years but had been denied release for a number of reasons. | Mr Bell's father, Carl, said his son had gone before the Parole Board every two years but had been denied release for a number of reasons. |
His son had been unable to access courses to tackle issues including anger management because they were oversubscribed, he said. | His son had been unable to access courses to tackle issues including anger management because they were oversubscribed, he said. |
Mr Bell said his son had been an "easy target" for other inmates which had led to him becoming involved in fights and further hampered his release. | Mr Bell said his son had been an "easy target" for other inmates which had led to him becoming involved in fights and further hampered his release. |
"We are all hoping, but Wayne has given up. | "We are all hoping, but Wayne has given up. |
"He's 29 years old and he's had no life." | "He's 29 years old and he's had no life." |
He said the abolition of IPP sentences in 2012 had come too late for his son and called on the government to release him. | He said the abolition of IPP sentences in 2012 had come too late for his son and called on the government to release him. |
Indeterminate sentences | Indeterminate sentences |
Introduced in 2005, IPPs sentenced offenders to a minimum term set by a judge, after which they could apply to the Parole Board for release. | Introduced in 2005, IPPs sentenced offenders to a minimum term set by a judge, after which they could apply to the Parole Board for release. |
At one stage there were 6,080 IPP prisoners in England and Wales, representing 7% of the total jail population. | At one stage there were 6,080 IPP prisoners in England and Wales, representing 7% of the total jail population. |
The Parole Board may only approve release if it believes an offender is safe to rejoin the community. | The Parole Board may only approve release if it believes an offender is safe to rejoin the community. |
IPPs were abolished in 2012 after it emerged they were being used more widely than intended - and in some instances for low-level crimes. | IPPs were abolished in 2012 after it emerged they were being used more widely than intended - and in some instances for low-level crimes. |
The Howard League for Penal Reform has called on the government to "urgently" review the detention of IPP prisoners who have served their minimum tariff. | The Howard League for Penal Reform has called on the government to "urgently" review the detention of IPP prisoners who have served their minimum tariff. |
Former home secretary David Blunkett has expressed "regret" that the sentences, brought in while he was in office, have led to "injustices". | Former home secretary David Blunkett has expressed "regret" that the sentences, brought in while he was in office, have led to "injustices". |
Withington MP Jeff Smith said: "This example highlights that IPPs were completely unsatisfactory." | Withington MP Jeff Smith said: "This example highlights that IPPs were completely unsatisfactory." |
The Parole Board said it had made significant progress by cutting IPP prisoner numbers to 2,489 as at June 2018. | The Parole Board said it had made significant progress by cutting IPP prisoner numbers to 2,489 as at June 2018. |
A spokesman added: "While a number of IPPs remain in the system, we are working to progress as many as we can, when it is safe to do so." | A spokesman added: "While a number of IPPs remain in the system, we are working to progress as many as we can, when it is safe to do so." |
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "All such prisoners who have served their tariff have the opportunity to apply to the independent Parole Board and demonstrate that they are no longer a threat to society." | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "All such prisoners who have served their tariff have the opportunity to apply to the independent Parole Board and demonstrate that they are no longer a threat to society." |
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