A 10-year-old boy is pleading for the release of his dad, who stole a phone in 2011. In the letter from Kayden Wright to the Ministry of Justice, he begs the government to help him speak to his dad.
According to reports, the 10-year-old boy's dad, Thomas White, was imprisoned when sentenced with Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP). This law became controversial and was abolished in 2012.
The 10-year-old boy's letter
Kayden sent his letter to Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland, the minister of state for prisons. However, the ten-year-old boy from Manchester has not received a reply yet.
In his letter, the young boy said that he had not seen his dad since he was a baby. Kayden wrote, "Sir I'm asking you, can you help me speak to my daddy?"
Kayden is staying with his grandmother, and he does not see his mother much because she is not doing well from an accident.
The boy also asked in his letter, "Please sir do you think he will be home for Christmas or my first day at big school? Please please write back sir."
The dad's sentence
According to the White family, the dad, Thomas, was into trouble as a young boy. Then in 2011, he stole a phone from a couple in Manchester.
During his trial, Thomas pleaded guilty. He was sentenced with IPP, but with a minimum term of two years only.
Almost a decade after, there are reports that over 2,000 people sentenced to IPP are stuck in prison. Most of them do not have any idea if they will still be released.
The IPP was abolished in 2012 by Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke. The reason behind the abolishment was that IPP was seen as punishing low-level offenders disproportionately.
The family's worries
In the letter, Kaydeln asked the government when his father can come home. He said he wanted to know as his grandmother does not have an answer.
Besides Kayden, his aunt and Thomas' sister, Clara White, has been calling for the dad's release.
Clara said the imprisonment affected Thomas' mental health, and that the 38-year-old dad spent most of his sentence in segregation while reading the Bible. She said, He is extremely unwell, and no one seems to be doing anything about it."
The government's response
According to Metro, the Ministry of Justice spokesperson said, "These types of offenders were deemed by a judge to pose a high risk to the public."
The spokesperson added that offenders like Thomas are released when the Parole Board finds that they are no longer a threat to the public.
The ministry also mentioned that they have already dedicated progression regimes for struggling prisoners.
