The case concerns prisoners who were subject to indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for the public protection (“IPP sentences”) in the United Kingdom. The applicants, Brett James, Nicholas Wells and Jeffrey Lee, are British nationals who were born in 1985, 1983 and 1965 respectively. Mr James lives in Wakefield (England), Mr Wells is currently in detention and Mr Lee lives in Fleetwood (England). All three men were given automatic IPP sentences in 2005 following their convictions of various offences, in light of their offending history. Relying on Article 5 §§ 1 and 4 (right to liberty and security), the three applicants complain about the failure to ensure their access to courses to address their offending behaviour while in prison and the impact of this failure on their ability to show that they were rehabilitated and able safely to be released.
(from the official press-release prepared by the Registry Office of the European Court of Human Rights)