An RAF veteran whose brother is enduring an indefinite prison sentence, which has tragically led to the deaths of at least 90 inmates, emphasizes the ‘immediate necessity’ for his resentencing and release.
In 2009, Rob Russell was sentenced to an IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) with a minimum tariff of two and a half years for making a death threat.
He remains incarcerated, having completed six times the duration of his original tariff—five years beyond the longest determinate sentence applicable for the crime.
The IPP sentencing structure was abolished in 2012 due to increasing concerns about its psychological toll on inmates. However, the repeal did not apply retrospectively, leaving approximately 3,000 prisoners trapped within this framework without a clear resolution.
Out of these, around 700 have been incarcerated for ten years or more following their initial terms.
This group includes Wayne Bell, who was imprisoned at 17 for attempting to steal a bike and has now spent 17 years in custody; Aaron Graham, serving an IPP since 2005 for a GBH charge who will reach 19 years in prison this December; alongside Rob.
While speaking to Metro, Roddy Russell, Rob’s brother, revealed that the sentence has severely impacted his sibling’s mental health, leading Rob to attempt suicide ‘on at least two occasions’ and once ‘request another inmate to choke him.’
‘Serve your two and a half years and you’ll come out’
Over the last 15 years, Roddy has taken on the role of his brother’s advocate, tirelessly fighting for Rob’s release so he can return to the Forest of Dean, where both brothers grew up.
The West Country region is where Roddy began his aspiration to serve in the Royal Air Force, but it is also where Rob’s ordeal began.
At the time of his apprehension, Rob had developed an alcohol dependency following a divorce and had also lost his job.
“I was completely unaware of the criminal justice system; we had never interacted with it,” Roddy shared.
“I thought at that point, ‘Okay, you’ve made a mistake,’ and I relied on the criminal justice system to deliver justice.
“So I allowed the system to operate on the assumption it would serve justice. I thought, serve your two and a half years, and you’ll be released.”
Rob was ‘actively participating in every available rehabilitation program’ within the prison, Roddy noted, but a significant impediment arose when he was removed from a behavior course due to being deemed ‘disruptive’.
“This coincided with the passage of his two and a half year mark, leading the Parole Board to withhold any direction for his release,” Roddy explained.
“Around that time, he seemed to completely lose hope, having exerted considerable effort, only to have the two and a half years slip by.”
‘I didn’t recognize my own brother’
“At that moment, I began to suspect there was something unusual about his sentence. Following this, he started to decline significantly.
“He became withdrawn, neglected his personal health, and attempted suicide multiple times, even asking another inmate to choke him.
“He subsequently entered a profoundly disengaged catatonic state.”
Photographer: Will Heron
Copyright: Roddy Russell/Will Heron)
(Credits: Will Heron)
Eventually, the prison reached out to Roddy, inviting him for a visit as the staff were genuinely concerned about Rob’s wellbeing.
“That was my first experience inside a prison,” he recollected. “I looked around the visitors’ area, struggling to spot anyone resembling my brother.
“I expressed, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t locate him,’ and they directed me towards him. Upon approaching, he appeared extremely disheveled.
“He had lost weight. His hair was unkempt and greasy, almost matted. He had grown an unkempt beard riddled with debris.
“He exhibited signs of agitation; his eyes were darting everywhere, refusing to meet mine, and he struggled to communicate coherently.
“He resembled the images from the Bible of Jesus on the cross.
“I found that incredibly disturbing. I didn’t recognize my own brother.”
‘This is the impact of that IPP sentence on him’
The following years were characterized by a series of prison hearings concerning alleged violations of conduct, unsuccessful Parole Board hearings, and worsening mental health issues.
“As he reached the 10-year milestone, he frequently remarked on how murderers, rapists, and pedophiles who entered the prison after him had been released, while he remains here,” Roddy shared.
“He’s currently at a point where he refuses to participate in parole processes—he simply doesn’t show up for the hearings.
“During a recent visit, he arrived at the visitors’ hall holding a small A5 pamphlet of religious prayers. This has raised serious concerns for me as he seems to have shifted to a different level of mental health decline that requires evaluation and treatment.
“He now believes he is a follower of Jesus and is meant to remain at HMP Swaleside because God has assigned him there to illuminate the darkness within.
“[He believes] he must expose the wrongdoers at HMP Swaleside and hold them accountable for their actions.
“He was never like this prior to his incarceration. This transformation is a consequence of that IPP sentence.”
At least 90 IPP prisoners have lost their lives
Roddy continued:
‘I believe many IPP inmates resemble Rob, as they attempt to comprehend the absurd length of their imprisonment, which seems inexplicable to them.
‘The judge imposes a two and a half year tariff; thus, realistically, I should be released at or shortly after that two and a half-year mark.
‘Consequently, those who have never been released even after 10 or 15 years must be striving to make sense of how they have remained in prison for such an extended duration.’
Recent governmental statistics reveal that 90 IPP inmates have taken their own lives while incarcerated since 2005.
In the previous year alone, there were nine self-inflicted fatalities among IPP inmates, marking the highest figure in a single year since the inception of this sentence, according to the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO).
Professor Graham Towl, the former chief psychologist at the Ministry of Justice and current professor of forensic psychology at Durham University, informed Metro that inmates serving indeterminate sentences are at a heightened risk of ending their lives.
‘The patterns regarding the timing of such incidents can differ from those of prisoners with determinate sentences, where the highest levels of risk occur during the initial stages of imprisonment,’ he remarked.
‘For indeterminate-sentenced inmates, the periods of increased suicide risk seem to align with their periodic case reviews.’
‘The IPP sentence is generally criticized – to me, it appears to be a manifestation of an unjust punishment.’
‘It’s an issue instigated by politicians – they need to devise a solution’
This perspective is echoed by Lord Blunkett, the architect of the IPP sentence during his tenure as home secretary in the New Labour government of 2005.
He has termed the IPP sentence his ‘greatest regret’ and is currently endorsing a Private Member’s Bill presented in the House of Lords earlier this month, aimed at establishing a protocol for the resentencing of individuals still subject to it.
The urgency of this matter is amplified as the government implements emergency procedures to release hundreds of inmates to create additional space, following a historical peak in the prison population.
‘It feels almost like a sick, dark joke,’ Roddy commented regarding the temporary early release initiative. ‘I would find it amusing if it weren’t so grave and personally impacting.’
Experts suggest that a campaign for resentencing could alleviate prison overcrowding by one-third, effectively freeing up the equivalent of an entire population the size of four average UK prisons.
Richard Garside, the director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, stated: ‘Even if the government resolves the immediate issues regarding prison capacity, further challenges loom in the upcoming years.
‘Resentencing all those under the IPP sentence would help mitigate the medium-term prison capacity crisis threatening the government’s agenda.
‘Labour, not unreasonably, contends that the pressing short-term capacity dilemma is a remnant of the preceding Conservative government. However, with Labour now governing, action is required.’
‘Should Labour continue to dismiss measures such as the resentencing of those with IPP sentences, alongside other innovative solutions to combat the approaching medium-term capacity crisis, they will bear sole responsibility for the ensuing chaos.’
Roddy added: ‘When I engage with MPs, they all concur that action is necessary, yet none seem to be progressing toward a resolution.
‘This issue resulted from political decisions, and it’s the politicians’ responsibility to find a solution.
‘A cross-party agreement existed regarding resentencing, yet it appears to rest solely with the justice secretary now.’
‘It is of utmost urgency that they proceed with resentencing, given that lives are at stake—over 90 deaths by suicide in prison have already occurred.
‘We have also identified at least 10 fatalities outside, involving individuals on license who can no longer cope with the weight of the IPP sentence and the threat of recall.’
In July, after the government announced plans to reduce the IPP license duration from 10 years to three, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated: ‘I am committed to progressing towards a secure and sustainable release for those serving IPP sentences, while ensuring public safety is not compromised.
‘Initiating these strategies is the foundational step in achieving this goal.
‘I will continue to oversee developments in this area, and the government intends to collaborate with expert organizations to ascertain the appropriate course of action to assist those serving IPP sentences.’
A representative from the Ministry of Justice commented: ‘We are resolute in advancing towards the secure and sustainable release of individuals still serving IPP sentences – which were appropriately abolished – while prioritizing public safety.
‘The Prison Service is enhancing support for those in custody, including improved access to rehabilitation programs and mental health resources.’
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