For Immediate Release
UK GOVERNMENT LIABLE TO PAY MILLIONS IN COMPENSATION TO PRISONERS
6th October is the fifth anniversary of the decision of The Grand Chamber of the European Convention on Human Rights in Hirst v. UK (2) that it was unlawful for the UK to deny the vote to prisoners.
The Government having done nothing to rectify this breach, prisoners are now taking the matter into their own hands.
Elkan Abrahamson, a Partner in Jackson and Canter LLP Solicitors and solicitor for Mr Hirst, said:
“We have at our own expense sent out over 5,000 information packs to prisoners who wish to sue the Government as they were not allowed to vote in the last general election. If each prisoner receives £1,000 compensation that will be £5 million wasted by the Government. The Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament elections are due next year and if the Government does not get its act together there will be another huge payout due.
The Committee of Ministers is regularly reminding the UK Government that it is breaking the law. We are asking them to refer the matter back to the European Court. The solution is in the Government’s hands – give prisoners the vote.”
Mr Hirst added:
“The government simply has got no excuse for failing to comply with the ECtHR decision. In September the Committee of Ministers refused to believe that the government was looking for the best way forward. The government is the obstacle in the path because all that needs doing is to amend s.3 of RPA 1983. Latvia which joined Hirst v UK (No2) as an interested party allowed all prisoners to vote on 2 October 2010. Allowing for the European and English general election, it is estimated that all this unwarranted delay has achieved is an estimated £135m bill for the taxpayers. It is not good enough that the MoJ tells the media that they will be told what is happening when the MoJ has worked out what to do. It should concern everybody that the government does not know what it is doing!”
Ends
Contacts: Elkan Abrahamson 0151 2821743
John Hirst
landline: (01482) 341281
john.hirst@myhaven.karoo.co.uk
mobile: 07757299845
jailhouselawyer@virginmedia.blackberry.com
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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