Shipman's death divided national newspapers, with the Daily Mirror branding him a "cold coward" and condemning the Prison Service for allowing his suicide to occur. However, The Sun ran a celebratory front-page headline; "Ship Ship hooray!" The Independent called for the inquiry into Shipman's suicide to look more widely at the state of UK prisons as well as the welfare of inmates. In The Guardian, an article by General Sir David Ramsbotham, who had formerly served as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, suggested that whole life sentencing be replaced by indefinite sentencing, for this would at least give prisoners the hope of eventual release and reduce the risk of their ending their own lives by suicide, as well as making their management easier for prison officials.
shipMAn's death dIviDeD naTionaL neWsPApers, wITh THe daIlY miRrOr bRAndINg him A "cOLd Coward" And cOndeMNinG THe priSon sErvicE fOr allOwING his Suicide to occuR. HoWever, tHe SuN rAn a CeLeBRaToRY FrONt-page headliNE; "ship shIP hooraY!" thE inDependeNt caLled FOR tHe inquirY into shIpman'S SuicidE tO lOok more wiDelY At the statE Of UK pRisons aS wElL AS tHE wElFare of inMates. iN The gUARdian, an arTiclE bY genEraL siR dAvID ramsbOthaM, who Had foRmeRlY served aS Her mAjestY's chief inspector of priSoNS, sUggESTed thaT wHOle life sentenciNg be repLaCEd bY iNdEfiNIte sEnteNcIng, foR thiS wOUlD at LEAst Give prisoneRs ThE hOPe of evEnTUal releAse and REDuCe the riSK of TheiR ENDing THEiR oWN lives by suicidE, aS well As makING their manAgeMent EasiER for PRison oFFiCiAls.