Tens of millions of pounds in compensation have been paid to criminals, prison staff and visitors to British jails, new official figures have disclosed.
By Andrew Hough, Daily Telegraph, 8:00AM BST 20 Aug 2011
More than 700 prison staff won compensation payouts totalling £6.8million for injury, lost or damaged property or losing their job Photo: REX
Government statistics, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show taxpayers funded nearly £60million in compensation claim for prison incidents over the past four years.
Ministry of Justice figures show 16,000 prisoners were paid £16 million in compensation, 41,500 jail staff collected £41 million while 2000 jail visitors received £2million.
Last year, two unidentified prisoners won more than £100,000 in payouts for undisclosed "injuries". The amount awarded to the two prisoners totalled £252,000.
The figures showed that more than £1.25million in compensation was paid out every month – or £40,000 every day – for incidents that occurred behind bars including damage property, accidents and extended detention.
Critics said last night the figures showed the compensation culture in Britain's prisons was still rampant at a time when the justice system was facing heavy budget cuts.
But the MoJ, which faces budget cuts of 23 per cent over four years, defended the payouts, saying each case was “robustly defended”.
According to the figures, more than £2million was paid to criminals injured inside prison last year. More than 2,000 prisoners also made successful claims after authorities lost their possessions.
Meanwhile more than 700 prison staff, the vast majority being guards, won compensation payouts totalling £6.8million for injury, lost or damaged property or losing their job.
Emma Boon, from the Taxpayers' Alliance campaign group said: “The total bill for prison compensation is at an unacceptably high level”.
But Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said claims paid to staff were “wholly justified” as they often worked in “dangerous” protecting the public.
A MoJ spokesman defended the payouts, saying each claim was individually assessed.
"Like all citizens, it is open to prisoners to pursue civil litigation claims for any perceived wrongdoing,” he said.
“Each litigation case is dealt with on its merits and, so far as the evidence allows, all claims are robustly defended.”
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