Woman feeding pigeons with bread arrested and handcuffed by police

A woman feeding pigeons in the street was arrested and handcuffed in a “ridiculous” incident caught on camera.

Video posted on social media shows the woman aged in her forties being detained by a group of at least six police officers and council enforcement workers in Harrow, London, on Wednesday.

In the footage captured by a passer-by, the woman looks visibly distressed as she is placed in handcuffs at around 2.30pm on the High Street in Wealdstone, before her pockets are searched. She is then marched by two officers and put in the back of a police van.

The man filming can be heard repeatedly expressing his outrage at the scene, and other passers-by are similarly heard questioning the incident, with one saying, “This is ridiculous.”

The local council said the woman was in “breach of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) relating to bird feeding” and issued her with a £100 fine. Anyone in breach of the PSPO must pay a £100 fixed penalty notice, otherwise they may face prosecution.

Police said the woman was arrested after she “repeatedly refused to provide her personal details” when asked by officers, which is an offence.

Once her details were obtained, the force said she was de-arrested, and the matter was passed over to council officers.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “At around 2.30pm on Wednesday 7 January, officers were approached by local council enforcement officers dealing with an anti-social behaviour incident on Wealdstone High Street, Harrow.

“A woman, in her forties, was repeatedly asked to provide her name and address so that a fixed penalty notice could be issued. After speaking with officers for around 20 minutes, she repeatedly refused to provide her personal details.

“She was arrested on suspicion of breaching Section 50 of the Police Reform Act, which requires people to provide their name and address when requested to do so by the police.

“Her details were later obtained, and she was de-arrested and dealt with by council officers.”

A Harrow Council spokesperson said: “There was a breach of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) relating to bird feeding.

“The individual refused to provide their details, which is an offence, and also refused to stop feeding pigeons when asked to do so.

“Our PSPO is in place to help keep our streets clean and safe for everyone, and anyone found breaching these faces a £100 fixed penalty notice.”

Denmark’s dark history with Greenland and the women who can’t forget

Right now, Donald Trump’s eyes – and the world’s collective gaze – are trained firmly on Greenland. The world’s largest island is home to just 57,000 people, but has been the focal point of months of tense geopolitical wrangling that, in the wake of the United States’ recent incursion into Venezuela, only looks set to become more fraught.

Trump has made no secret of his desire to “buy” Greenland – and hasn’t ruled out using military force to acquire it, despite the fact that doing so would seriously damage Nato. The territory has been part of Nato member Denmark for centuries, dating back to the arrival of the Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede in 1721.

Egede, who is commemorated in a controversial statue in the Greenlandic capital city of Nuuk, has come to be seen as a symbol of colonial power. He is just one player in the complicated, often dark history between Denmark and Greenland, which has been blighted not only by centuries-old grievances, but scandals within living memory.

But although Trump and co might see this resentment towards the Danes as potential fuel to fan the flames of a “Make Greenland Great Again” campaign, it’s not as simple as that. Greenlanders are wary of simply swapping one controlling foreign power for another. The image of a grinning Donald Trump Jr, who visited Greenland “as a tourist” shortly before his father’s 2025 inauguration, posing in front of the statue of Egede with his entourage, will surely only have underlined this unease.

For the majority of Greenlanders, independence is the preferred option: a 2025 poll showed that 56 per cent would vote in favour if a referendum were held. Earlier this week, the Icelandic singer Björk shone a light on the cause when she shared an Instagram post wishing “all Greenlanders blessing in their fight for independence”. Colonialism, she added, “has repeatedly given me horror chills up my back, and the chance that my fellow Greenlanders might go from one cruel coloniser to another is too brutal to even imagine”.

Although their capital cities are more than 3,500km apart, Greenland has been linked to Denmark for a millennium, with Norse migrants settling there around AD1000. It was a Danish colony until 1953, when it fully became part of the Danish state; a little over a quarter century later, following a referendum, it gained home rule, granting Greenland control over domestic affairs.

Then, in 2009, a new self-government act gave even greater autonomy (although Denmark retained control of foreign affairs and defence). The official language switched, too, from Danish to Greenlandic, the Inuit language of Kalaallisut. And as part of this act, Greenland has the option to declare independence fully, should its people vote in favour in a referendum (the Danish parliament would need to agree, too).

Denmark has long cultivated an image as a benevolent coloniser. But a handful of recent revelations have irrevocably shattered that flattering portrait. One particularly harrowing chapter in Denmark and Greenland’s joint history came to light in the late 2010s, when Greenlandic women who had been forcibly fitted with the contraceptive coil by Danish doctors started to speak out about their ordeal.

In the Sixties and Seventies, thousands of Greenlandic women and girls, some as young as 12, were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs), without their knowledge or consent. The policy was an attempt to slow down population growth in Greenland (which at the time had one of the highest birth rates in the world) and therefore lessen the potential financial burden on Denmark; it’s thought to have impacted around half of the island’s women of childbearing age between 1966 and 1970.

Many were left traumatised, and others suffered pain, bleeding, infection and lasting health complications; some struggled to conceive later in life, not realising that they had been fitted with the coil. “I could clearly see that the [IUD] tools looked much too big for my little girl’s body, but at the time I didn’t realise they were for adult women,” Naja Lyberth, who was fitted with the coil at the age of 14 and later became the first woman to come forward, has said. “It was like torture, like a rape.”

Múte Egede, the former Greenland prime minister, has described this programme as “straightforward genocide, carried out by the Danish state against the Greenland population”. The Danish broadcaster DR released a podcast series, Spiralkampagnen, about the scandal in 2022; an apology from the Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen followed in 2025. “I apologise to the girls and women who have been subjected to systematic discrimination,” she said. “Because they are Greenlanders. For experiencing both physical and psychological harm. For being let down.”

Another dark episode that has recently prompted a much-belated apology is the so-called “little Danes experiment” of the Fifties. The Danish government sent 22 Inuit children from Greenland to live with Danish families; the idea was that they would learn the Danish language and way of life, then later return to their home country, inculcated with these values and traditions. It was, of course, a policy steeped in colonialist ideals; the aim was to eventually create a “new ruling class of Greenlanders” who were, essentially, culturally Danish.

The participating children were meant to be orphans, but some were actually taken from their families. Six were adopted by foster families in Denmark, but when the remaining 16 eventually returned to Greenland, they were placed in orphanages and made to continue speaking Danish.

Most of them never returned to live with their birth families; around half of the youngsters involved in the “experiment” later experienced mental health problems, substance abuse and suicide attempts. In 2020, prime minister Frederiksen made an official apology to the survivors, admitting that “we cannot change what happened. But we can take responsibility and apologise to those we should have cared for but failed to do”.

But for decades after this “experiment”, there has been further controversy over the use of “parenting competency” tests, known as FKU, on Greenlandic families based on the Danish mainland. Activists have long argued that it is unfair to make decisions about whether a Greenlander is a fit parent based on assessments that are rooted in Danish norms and carried out in Danish, rather than Kalaallisut. Greenlandic parents in Denmark are five times more likely to have their children taken into care, according to one report.

The forced contraception programme and “controversial child welfare practices” are not “just historical footnotes”, says Aurélien Colson, Professor of Political Science at ESSEC Business School. “They are seen as deeply intrusive decisions imposed from outside. These episodes matter because they reinforce a colonial grievance narrative: Denmark is seen not only as a partner, but as a state that historically made intrusive decisions over Greenlandic bodies and families”. The scandals, he adds, “have strengthened a sense that Greenland’s future should be decided in Nuuk, not elsewhere – and certainly not in Washington DC”.

This year, though, Denmark banned the use of FKU tests on Greenlandic families; the decision came not too long after Trump started voicing plans for a Greenland takeover. The timing inevitably raised eyebrows, with some Greenlanders believing that this sudden and speedy policy U-turn on a longstanding grievance was rooted in Danish fears about US involvement. Speaking to The Guardian in January 2025, Greenlandic politician Naaja Nathanielsen suggested that Trump’s interest had been “a wake-up call to Copenhagen”.

Trump is not the first US president to attempt to acquire Greenland. Back in the 1860s, Andrew Johnson’s administration raised the idea of buying it; at the start of the Cold War, Harry Truman made Denmark a secret offer of $100m for the territory, which he believed held strategic importance (the Americans, it should be noted, have had a military presence in Greenland since the Second World War).

But the 47th president is arguably the most persistent. Back in 2019, he expressed his interest in buying the territory, claiming that “essentially it’s a large real estate deal”, but his overtures were rejected outright by the Danes, with the prime minister describing the prospect as “absurd”. During his second term, though, it has become something of a fixation.

Why is Trump so obsessed with the idea of planting the stars and stripes on Greenland? Its vast array of natural resources might well play a part. Underneath the ice lie rare earth elements, which are used in the manufacturing of smartphones, batteries and green technology, as well as other valuable raw materials such as lithium, graphite and copper. It’s estimated to be home to significant and as-yet-untapped reserves of fossil fuels, too.

The president has also repeatedly claimed that the US needs Greenland “from the standpoint of national security”, as he put it on Air Force One earlier this week, arguing that its location is of “strategic” importance. Its position along the GIUK gap, the passage between Greenland, Iceland and the UK, makes it potentially useful for overseeing access to the North Atlantic; it is also well placed to potentially provide warning of missile attacks.

But for all the American attempts to rally support, such as the coolly received “charm offensive”-style visit from vice-president JD Vance and his wife Usha, Greenlanders have not warmed to the idea of swapping Denmark for the States. Last year, a poll found that 85 per cent opposed the idea of Greenland becoming part of the USA; only six per cent were in favour.

Some politicians reckon that Trump’s interest might have another potential side effect: accelerating a possible split from Denmark and eventual independence. “There’s a window of opportunity here for us, where we could actually go into a dialogue about concrete steps we can take to better Greenlandic people’s lives,” MP Juno Berthelsen said earlier this week.

The general mood, Colson says, could be summed up as “less Copenhagen over time, and certainly not Washington instead”, with a desire for “more Greenlandic control when it becomes economically viable”. But the question of exactly “when” is a very important one.

As Colson points out, its economy is “small and highly dependent on fishing”, plus it still receives an annual grant from Denmark, known as the “block grant”; this represents over half of the public budget and helps subsidise services like education and healthcare. And on the latter point, Denmark covers costs for Greenlandic patients who need treatment in mainland Danish hospitals, too.

Indeed, the same 2025 poll that showed 56 per cent of Greenlanders favoured independence also reported that 45 per cent would be opposed if it meant that their living standards would deteriorate. Rather than an immediate shift, most Greenlanders seem to favour a slow, steady move away from Denmark. Independence, Colson reckons, “is possible but it’s not imminent”. A move to independence, he adds, “would take years, probably a decade or more”, and would also require new revenues, such as mining, tourism growth or an expansion of fishing, or some sort of transitional arrangement.

Iceland might present a potential blueprint for Greenland’s way forward. Once part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it officially gained full independence in 1944 following a referendum, having slowly gained significant autonomy in the preceding decades through a handover period. Like Greenland, it is rich in natural resources; geothermal power has proved important for the economy, as it could do for its neighbour.

Whatever lies in Greenland’s future, though, for now its people and its politicians are sticking to one refrain: that their land is not for sale.

Trump warned Greenland dispute threatens crucial US defence agreements

Donald Trump’s hostile approach to Greenland threatens to undermine the largely unfettered access the United States has with the Danish territory, America’s leading expert on the issue has warned.

Barack Obama’s former assistant secretary of state Frank Rose was the last U.S. official to negotiate a defence deal with Denmark and the Greenland Home Rule administration and spoke exclusively to The Independent about the international dispute threatening to break NATO.

“Like many things with the president, I don’t disagree with what he’s trying to do,” he said. “I disagree with the means he’s trying to get there.”

Rose described Greenland as “critical” to U.S. defence and in 2003/2004 was responsible for negotiating the agreement for satellite defence on the island as part of the early warning system for attacks on America.

He noted that thanks to another treaty in 1951 the U.S. can “do whatever it wants” militarily on Greenland with the consent of the Danish government “and they were never going to say no”.

But he warned that with President Trump’s bellicose language of forcibly taking Greenland from Denmark, that the consent needed might not be forthcoming if the U.S. wants to put 10,000 troops on the island again – the number it had there until the end of the Cold War.

On Friday, Trump reiterated his intentions to take to take the territory one way or another and showed no sign of backing down.

“We’re going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not,” he told reporters. “We’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor. I would like to make a deal, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way.

“I’m a big fan of Denmark, they’ve been very nice to me. But the fact they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean they own the land. I’m sure we had lots of boats go there also.”

The issue has shocked NATO allies with U.K. prime minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking twice to the president about it in a bid to persuade him to back off his demands.

When it was put to Rose that Denmark and Greenland are not going to be cooperative because of the international backlash to Trump’s threats, he replied: “That’s quite possible.”

He went on: “I’ve worked with Danes for 25 years of my career. They are wonderful allies. They have shed blood for the United States in Afghanistan. These people are good allies.

“You know, you really don’t want to upset your friends for no reason. Sometimes you need to upset your friends. Okay, that’s just, that’s life. This is not one of those situations where we need to upset our friends to get what we need.

“I say this, as someone who’s actually negotiated with the Danes and the Greenland Home Rule government back in 2003/ 2004 to enhance the security of the United States, I understand how important Greenland is.”

As a a junior staffer at the Pentagon working on missile defense, he was responsible for working with the Danish government and the Greenland Home Rule government to allow them to upgrade the radar as part of the homeland missile defense mission.

He said the radar “is really critical with regards to our ability to protect the East Coast of the United States from long range missile threats from North Korea and potentially Iran.”

It is also critical to track missiles in space or ones fired over the poles by Russia or China.

The United States occupied Greenland during the Second World War after Denmark fell to Nazi Germany and then the treaty of 1951 meant that they could station whatever military they wanted afterwards.

“So Trump absolutely right about the strategic importance of Greenland, but fundamentally, under the 1951 Defense of Greenland Treaty, we basically have wide latitude to deploy additional troops as needed,” Rose said.

“We have all the legal rights necessary to do what we need to do. This is Donald Trump. He gets many of these, the fundamental issues right, but it’s how he goes about it. And I wish somebody on the National Security Council or the State Department was telling him that we can do whatever we need to do there.”

Anti-ICE protests erupt across the country after woman fatally shot by agent

Protests have erupted across the country after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

Demonstrators in Minneapolis and other cities across the U.S., including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh and Washington, D.C., have turned out this weekend for nonviolent protests, being called “ICE Out For Good.” Photos showed demonstrators holding signs demanding ICE leave their cities or remembering Good’s legacy.

Large anti-ICE protests have been ongoing in Minneapolis, drawing hundreds of local and state law enforcement officers. A large crowd formed Saturday in the city’s Powderhorn Park, where protesters have chanted Good’s name and waved signs with slogans like “ICE will melt,” according to CNN.

While the Minneapolis protests have been largely peaceful, at least 29 individuals were arrested Friday evening after a hotel was vandalized.

Several activist groups have helped organize the protests, which call for the government to reduce ICE presence in cities and demand accountability.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has released a new video showing the minutes that led up to the fatal shooting in Minneapolis. In a post on X, the agency asserted Good was “STALKING and IMPEDING a law enforcement operation.”

New site allows drivers to see how badly their council is on potholes

Motorists across England can now scrutinise their local council’s efforts in tackling potholes, following the introduction of a new traffic light rating system.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has unveiled a mapping tool assigning red, amber, or green ratings to 154 local highway authorities. These classifications are based on the state of local roads and how efficiently government road maintenance funding is being utilised.

The majority of authorities have received an amber rating. However, several areas have been flagged as red, indicating significant concerns.

These include Cumberland in Cumbria, Bolton in Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Suffolk, and Kensington and Chelsea in west London.

The DfT said red authorities will receive “dedicated support to bring them into line with best practices” through a £300,000 programme.

Green authorities include Essex; Wiltshire; Coventry, West Midlands; Leeds, West Yorkshire; and Darlington, County Durham.

They demonstrated they are following “best practice” such as investing in long-term preventative measures rather than just patching up potholes, while also maintaining good road conditions, according to the DfT.

Total local road maintenance funding for England provided by the Government in the 2025/26 financial year was nearly £1.6 billion, representing a £500 million uplift compared with the previous 12 months.

A quarter of the extra money was withheld until the end of last year after authorities had set out their plans to spend it.

In November’s budget, the Government committed to providing a total of £7.3 billion for local road maintenance funding for the four years up to and including 2029/30.

Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

The RAC estimates a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is £590.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “For too long drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate.

“I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole – money they should never have to spend in the first place.

“We’ve put our money where our mouth is, increasing the funding for local highway authorities with £7.3 billion to fix roads and given them the long-term certainty they have been asking for.

“Now it’s over to them to spend the money wisely, and for the first time we are making sure the public can see how well councils are doing in delivering the improvements they want to see in their local area.

“This Government’s record investment will save drivers money on repairs, make roads safer and help restore pride in our communities.”

Edmund King, president of the AA, said tackling potholes is the “top transport demand” for 96% of AA members, and the new ratings system should promote “more proactive and permanent repairs”.

Caroline Julian, brand and engagement director of British Cycling, said the new ratings system provides cyclists with “clear insight into how well their council is maintaining the routes they rely on every day”.

Tom Hunt, chairman of the Local Government Association’s inclusive growth committee, said: “Councils face a £17 billion backlog of road repairs.

“Only longer-term funding certainty will help councils more effectively plan for future maintenance schemes, focusing more on preventative measures – which will ultimately save the taxpayer money and reduce the need for repairs – and able to invest in innovation.”

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: “A map won’t stop tyres blowing or suspensions snapping.

“Motorists, already being squeezed tight by Labour, deserve real action to back them – only the Conservatives will deliver that.”

Your dream cruise formula: From Caribbean islands to European cities

If your ideal holiday is one that blends fuss-free adventure with great culinary choices and sumptuous relaxation, then book yourself onto a cruise immediately. From experiencing rich cultures, visiting breathtaking beauty spots, and dining on delicious delicacies – cruising has become one of the most luxurious ways to travel.

This dream-holiday formula is something that Virgin Voyages has perfected with its multi-award-winning, adult-only cruises, which sail across Europe, North America and the Caribbean. From entertaining onboard experiences and modern facilities to exciting escapades on land, these are the types of trips that are worth writing home about, and why Virgin Voyages has been named Travel + Leisure ® World’s Best #1 Mega Ship for an impressive three years in a row.

Here’s what would-be Sailors can expect from a Virgin Voyages cruise…

Whichever of the 150-plus destinations you choose to sail to, one thing remains guaranteed, you’ll get an unforgettable journey, and leave with happy stories to share with loved ones back home. Why not make those memories on Virgin Voyages’ impressive Lady Ships, with Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady each offering a distinct personality which is encapsulated in everything from decor to destinations. Expect enough amenities and activities to entertain a small city: from tequila tasting to spa days and over 20 premium eateries serving menus curated by Michelin starred chefs. There’s a whole holiday’s worth of experiences before you’ve even docked at your first port.

Be gone any thoughts of pokey, old-fashioned interiors and get ready to embrace charming cabins with a super-yacht aesthetic. No matter which of the Virgin Voyages sleeping quarters you choose from, you’ll be met with super comfortable beds, a roomy rainshower, mood lighting, free Wi-Fi and a large flat-screen HDTV. Want to really push the boat out? Opt for luxury suites that promise five-star comfort and opulence, with champagne tables, sun loungers, handwoven terrace hammocks and in-room bars. Virgin Voyages ‘RockStar’ Sailors can also enjoy everything from VIP entrances to private access to rooftop terraces.

Whether your spirit is one of a dancing queen or a sophisticated theatre-goer, Virgin Voyages has nightlife and entertainment options to suit every taste – developed with the help of the world’s most-talked-about directors, choreographers, and artists. Choose from 80s parties, festival acts or classic stories like Romeo and Juliet – reinvented with a circus twist. Each ship offers something different, so if you’re a Virgin Voyages regular, you’ll never see the same thing twice. Save your vocal chords for the private karaoke rooms, while the casinos and gaming arcades could elevate an already winning mood even further.

Don’t want to leave your full-on fitness regime behind when you go on holiday? Or are you just curious to try a new healthy group class? Whatever your wellness wishes, there’s plenty to keep you busy onboard with workouts for every level. There’s yoga, HIIT, weight training, boxing, meditation and more, plus running or walking the signature 255-metre-ish Virgin red running track, which curves around the top of the ship in a halo shape. If relaxation is your main goal, head to the spa for everything from steam room and sauna to hot stone massage and seaweed wrap. The beauty salon offers a range of professional treatments, from manicures, pedicures and nail art to IV therapy, Botox and fillers.

While you’re free to enjoy port cities at your own leisure, Virgin Voyages also curates an array of land excursions or ‘Shore Things’ for those who want to immerse themselves in local culture. Why not enjoy a barefoot fish cookout on the Mexican island of Cozumel, a late night party on the Greek Island of Mykonos or visit the historic halls of Harvard University when sailing through Boston, Massachusetts. If you’re cruising the Caribbean, choose from a beach day in St Vincent and The Grenadines; explore the private island of Mustique or visit the colourful buildings of the capital Kingstown. Do as much or as little as you like – you’re always in charge!

Proving that there really is a cruise for everyone, Virgin Voyages’ child-free cruises visit almost endless destinations that span Europe, North America and the Caribbean. Choose a five-night cruise from New York to Bermuda, taking in the paradise pink-sand beaches, maritime history and cafe culture of the island, or maybe a seven-night voyage starting in Los Angeles and sailing to Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan in Mexico. For a trip closer to home, soak in the Mediterranean sunshine while visiting Europe’s most famous cities and islands starting in the homeports of Greece and Spain. Tick off an array of bucket list destinations with the Idyllic Ibiza cruise aboard the Valiant Lady; set sail from Rome to Barcelona with stop offs at the superluxe Amalfi Coast, Cannes and Ibiza – now, that’s what you call an A-list adventure.

With so many incredible destinations to visit and on-board luxury to explore, a cruise with Virgin Voyages is a holiday you’ll never stop talking about.

Discover Virgin Voyages luxury range of cruises and plan your next adventure today

Britain’s former top judge tells Starmer: Make things right on IPP

A former lord chief justice has urged Sir Keir Starmer to end the scandal of cruel indefinite jail terms, accusing ministers of ignoring “the urgency of the situation”, as scores of prisoners languish in jail with no hope of release.

Comparing the cases of those locked up under imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences to the Post Office and infected blood scandals, Lord John Thomas argued it is “time for the state to recognise that a mistake has been made” and called for ministers to “bring justice at long last to those never released”.

IPP sentences – recognised as “psychological torture” by the UN – were scrapped in 2012, but not retrospectively, leaving almost 2,500 inmates who were already jailed incarcerated with no release date as the government continues to refuse to resentence them.

At least 94 people have taken their own lives in prison after losing hope of getting out.

Victims of the scandal, whose tragic cases have been highlighted by The Independent, include Leroy Douglas, who has served almost 20 years for stealing a mobile phone; Thomas White, 42, who set himself alight in his cell and has served 13 years for stealing a phone; and Abdullahi Suleman, 41, who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery.

Lord Thomas, a crossbench peer, last month tabled an amendment to the Sentencing Bill calling for IPP prisoners to be given a release date within two years of their next parole hearing, but it was voted down by the government this week.

It came alongside another defeated amendment tabled by Edward Garnier KC, a former solicitor general under the Conservative government, which called for a panel of judges to reconsider the plight of every prisoner on an indefinite jail term.

Writing for The Independent, Lord Thomas argued that IPP sentences have left some prisoners facing “extraordinary” sentences which are “wholly disproportionate to the crime” they committed.

“The IPP sentence is now accepted to have been wrong in principle by absolutely everyone. How, therefore, can we as a nation justly continue to imprison people under such a sentence?

“There is no answer to this question, save that the policy of the government is unjust,” he wrote.

Lord Thomas continued: “Psychiatric evidence is clear that if we lock someone up for an indefinite time for an offence that is not that serious, we are likely to do them damage.

“People on IPP sentences are being subjected to increased risk because their imprisonment is unjust and they lose all hope. It is time for the state to recognise that a mistake has been made.

“If we can do justice in the terrible cases of the Post Office and infected blood scandal, we can do it here.”

James Timpson, the prisons minister, has been at the forefront of trying to push reform in the new government, and is understood to have been arguing for many of the changes that Lord Thomas specifies in his mission for change.

Even though deputy prime minister David Lammy showed sympathy for change while in opposition, he has been reluctant to embrace the changes he once advocated.

The Independent understands there have been heated exchanges at the top of government, with the debate pivoting on the possible public disdain over the release of prisoners against the compassion of not locking people up and throwing away the key.

Lord Thomas’s remarks come just days after The Independent reported on the plight of 233 prisoners serving indefinite sentences who have been transferred to secure mental health units, in many cases because the hopeless nature of the jail term has left them profoundly damaged.

Meanwhile, a senior doctor who treats IPP prisoners warned that more will likely take their lives in custody unless the government moves to end the scandal.

Calling for ministers to take urgent action, Lord Thomas said: “2026 should be the year in which we at last remedy this longstanding injustice.

“It should not be a year when our government leaves the stain of IPP on our otherwise world-renowned system of justice and shows we, as a country, cannot pass the unfailing test of any civilisation.”

The Independent revealed in September that the United Nations will investigate whether Britain is breaching human rights law by arbitrarily detaining prisoners trapped on IPP sentences.

Campaigners and their legal team launched a landmark complaint on behalf of five men who have served a combined total of 84 years incarcerated under IPP jail terms, including for minor crimes.

The case, lodged with the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in September 2025, includes a bombshell letter from Mr Lammy, which proves he agrees the jail term is a “grave injustice” which causes “simply horrendous” mental trauma.

The letter, written in 2021 when he was shadow justice secretary, says the implementation of the jail term was “tragically flawed”, adding: “It is now painfully clear that the IPP sentence was far too broad, and many low-risk offenders are serving IPP sentences today for committing minor offences in the past.”

Meanwhile, senior judges who imposed the jail terms have revealed their regret for their part in the “injustice”.

Former High Court judge Sir John Saunders said he would apologise to offenders he handed IPP jail terms.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said:“It is right that IPP sentences were abolished and we have already acted. This includes tabling an amendment to ensure those serving IPP sentences in the community can be more swiftly considered for licence termination, supporting them to move on with their lives.

“Every IPP prisoner is entitled to a parole review at least every two years – and no one is kept in prison unless the independent Parole Board judges they still pose a serious risk.”

US military carries out strikes against Isis targets in Syria

The U.S. military has confirmed it conducted a series of airstrikes against the Islamic State militant group in Syria on Saturday, as part of an ongoing operation initiated in December following an attack on American personnel.

These strikes are part of broader efforts by a U.S.-led coalition, which has been conducting both aerial and ground operations against suspected ISIS members across Syria in recent months, frequently in conjunction with Syrian security forces.

In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed: “The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria,” noting they took place in the early afternoon, U.S. Eastern Time.

However, CENTCOM’s statement did not specify if there were any casualties. The Pentagon has so far declined to provide further details, and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Saturday’s attacks were part of an operation launched last month after Islamic State militants killed U.S. military personnel in Syria, CENTCOM said. The U.S. military said two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in that December 13 incident.

“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” US Central Command said in a statement.

In December the US launched a large-scale strike that hit 70 targets across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. About 1,000 U.S. troops remain in the country.

Syria’s government is led by ex-rebels who toppled former President Bashar al-Assad in 2024 after a 13-year civil war, and includes members of Syria’s former Al Qaeda branch who broke with the group and clashed with Islamic State.

Syria has been cooperating with a U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, reaching an agreement late last year when President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House.