SCANDAL OF FOR LAGS
Prison chiefs in compo rap
JAIL bosses have been blasted for handing out £1million of taxpayers’ cash to inmates.
The money was compensation for lost or damaged belongings.
Prisoners’ claims for lost items included 57p for a TV magazine, £20.80 for tobacco, £10 for a watch and £68.99 for a DVD player.
Compensation was also awarded for £10 damage to a pair of tracksuit bottoms, £3 for a T-shirt and £150 for a stereo.
Tory MP Bob Neill, chairman of the Commons justice committee, said: “Until prisons properly follow the clear guidance from the Ombudsman, scarce resources, not to mention taxpayers’ money, will continue to be wasted.
“Prisons need to sort it out to ensure they have an adequate system for property recording.”
John O’Connell of the Taxpayers’ Alliance said that the figures would “concern many taxpayers across the country”. He added: “Either the authorities are failing to treat prisoners at a standard they are legally required to, or they’re giving out compensation payments too easily – both at the expense of hardpressed taxpayers.”
More than 13,000 payouts have been made for “authorised belongings’ at prisons across England and Wales since 2013.
The total bill added up to £1.075million.
Payments have shot up in the last year by £21,000.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “We successfully defend two-thirds of all compensation cases brought against us by prisoners. “Where compensation is awarded, we always seek to ensure that payments are offset against outstanding debts owed to the courts and victims.” AWARD: Cash for DVD players and trainers