Fishermen’s Hall hero warns more IPP prisoners about suicide as he finally escapes indefinite prison sentence

One of the heroes of the period Fishermen’s Hall Terror attack warns more prisoners are dying indeterminate prison sentences They will lose their lives under the “despair clause”.

Marc Conwayto whom was it given? Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentenced for armed robbery was one of three released criminals who bravely confronted terrorist Usman Khan, who fatally stabbed two Cambridge University students.

Mr Conway, who was due to speak at a rehabilitation event in November 2019, helped disarm Khan after he was wrestled to the ground. London Bridge By Steven Gallant and John Crilly using narwhal tusks and a fire extinguisher.

They were afraid he would detonate the suicide vest, which was later revealed to be fake.

Despite being hailed as a hero for helping stop Khan, who was shot 12 times by police, Mr Conway feared his actions could land him back in prison under strict licensing conditions. IPP sentence.

Last week, he was finally spared a brutal prison sentence under reforms that saw 1,800 IPP offenders released at least five years ago automatically have their licenses terminated. He described it as “surreal” after years of living in fear of being recalled, even spending last month staying at home until he was finally freed.

But he called for urgent help for more. 2,600 IPP prisoners He’s still stuck without a release date under hopeless imprisonment, which he describes as “a convenient and safe resentment policy.”

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, the prison reform campaigner said: “People who benefit from IPPs will give up hope. What will be left to them if they are eventually released? The deteriorating mental health of IPP prisoners ensures that they are not released.

“My main concern was that after 20 years the last IPP would rot away somewhere, but my biggest concern now is that there will be no IPP left after 20 years because they are dying by suicide.”

Controversial prison sentences, in which offenders were given a minimum tariff but not a maximum tariff, were annulled in 2012 due to human rights concerns, but this did not apply to people already detained.

Approximately 700 of the 2,694 inmates currently in prison have served more than 10 years beyond their minimum sentence. At least five IPP prisoners who received sentences of less than the six-month minimum remained in prison for at least 16 years.

Punishments were described as ‘psychological torture’ UN human rights expert At least 90 IPP prisoners took their own lives, losing hope of being released.

Mr Conway threw his weight behind him The Independent’s It called for a review of the sentences of all IPP prisoners after highlighting a number of injustices, including Thomas White, who set himself on fire after serving 12 years in prison for stealing a mobile phone, and Yusuf Ali, who was hospitalized after 61 days of starvation and being hit.

Addressing the event, co-hosted by the Prison Reform Foundation and Buckinghamshire New University, Mr Conway called on the government to “give back hope, stop deaths by suicide”.

“Policies should look at freedom, not fear,” he said. “There should be an appropriate and safe resentencing policy for those left behind, as well as special institutions for IPP prisoners to cope with the trauma of punishment; This will help reduce overcrowding, ease pressures on healthcare services, improve staff retention rates. while still protecting the public.

“Otherwise there is a rebound every year, your mental health gets worse. Give back your hope, stop death by suicide.”

He went on to quote an anonymous suicidal prisoner, to whom he spoke about the serious difficulties faced by someone serving the IPP: “I feel useless, I’m no use to anyone, no one cares. “I tried to kill myself three times, but I can’t even do that properly.”

The government has so far resisted recommendations from the cross-party justice committee to crack down on IPP prisoners, claiming this would lead to the automatic release of dangerous prisoners.

IPP sentences were also excluded from the Ministry of Justice’s flagship sentencing review, led by David Gauke.

Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Foundation, called on politicians to seize “this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make bold decisions”.

He added: “Among all the reform measures that we should see as something positive and gradually changing, we must not forget the IPP situation.

“If anger is a step too far right now, we need to start thinking seriously about small steps and moving towards bigger reforms. “Organizations like the PRT can help government take a more solutions-oriented approach, how we can de-risk the public perception and be guided by evidence rather than rhetoric.”

Head of the school of humanities and social sciences at Buckinghamshire New University, Dr. Ciaran O’Keeffe oversees the university’s work with HMP Grendon, the therapeutic community prison where Mr Conway served part of his IPP sentence.

“Rehabilitation through alternatives to punishment is key to stopping the problems associated with the revolving door as individuals find themselves in and out of prison,” he added.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “It is true that IPP sentences have been abolished and that we have terminated the lifetime licenses of 1,800 recently rehabilitated offenders.

“We are currently exploring ways to improve access to mental health support and rehabilitation for those still in custody. However, since the protection of the public is our top priority, we will not engage in any outrageous practices.”

If you are experiencing feelings of distress or struggling to cope, you can speak to Samaritans confidentially on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected] or visit . Samaritans Website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are a US resident and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit: 988lifeline.org To access online chat on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis helpline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country you can go www.befrienders.org To find a helpline near you