Nicholas Bidar’s historic public parole hearing underscores the urgent need for reform in the UK’s sentencing and parole system, spotlighting the struggles of those serving indefinite sentences under the now-abolished IPP regime.
Nicholas Bidar, making history as the first Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) prisoner to have a parole hearing open to the public, has brought significant attention to the challenging circumstances faced by inmates serving indefinite sentences in the UK. Serving time under a now-abolished IPP sentence, Bidar articulates his daily ordeal as akin to “torture,” shedding light on the difficulties encountered by many still trapped in the prison system without a set release date. Despite fulfilling his sentence plan and receiving recommendations for his release, he remains in Category A high-security confinement, denoting him as a high-risk prisoner.
His case has prompted Dean Kingham, his lawyer, to urge for a comprehensive review and amendment of the current sentencing and parole system, emphasizing the dire need for resentencing options for IPP prisoners. This call to action comes amidst the government’s consideration to shorten the IPP license duration from ten to three years, a proposal that has faced criticism for not addressing the broader issues inherent within the system.
The ongoing debate around IPP sentences and the proposed reforms have gained traction, with the House of Lords examining possible amendments aimed at alleviating the plight of IPP prisoners. With his two-day parole hearing set for March 18, Bidar’s case has become a focal point for discussions on criminal justice reform and the future of IPP sentences in the UK.
