Prisoners paid hundreds of thousands by jails that lost their property

Watchdog warns prisons to ‘get a grip’ after they make more than 10,000 payouts over four-year period

OVER £850,000 has been paid to prisoners in compensation for lost or damaged property since 2013, new figures have revealed.

More than 10,000 taxpayer-funded payouts have been made for items including a dressing gown, hair clippers and trainers.

The findings come after a watchdog called on the prison service to “get a grip” over how property is managed, warning that jails are using scarce resources to settle complaints.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance. the cam- paign group, said the numbers “paint a terrible picture”, while the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said it robustly defends claims and is successful in two thirds of cases brought by prisoners.

MOJ data released following a Freedom of Information request show 10,357 compensation payments were issued to inmates held at state prisons in England and Wales for lost and damaged property from 2013-14 to 2016-17.

Six-figure-total sums were awarded in each of the four financial years, adding up to a figure of £855,541.02. In one year, 2014-15, the bill topped £300,000.

A snapshot of recent cases shows compensation was awarded for: a CD (£5.95); a DVD player (£60); an e-cigarette (£50); hair clippers (£16); a rechargeable toothbrush (£19.99); a watch (£30); a duvet and duvet cover (£27); toiletries (£4.09); a dressing gown (£20); and trainers (£35).

All of the payouts in the sample related to lost property. Authorised belongings can be held in possession, meaning the prisoner keeps the item on them or in their cell, while excess items can be stored locally at the jail or at a central depot.

Rules allow for inmates to lodge complaints and claims for compensation when their property is lost or damaged.

More than a quarter (29 per cent) of complaints investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in 2016-17 related to lost or damaged property. In July, the watchdog warned that prisons are “using scarce resources paying compensation for lost and damaged property”.

Nigel Newcomen’s final annual report as ombudsman said it was time for the prison service to “get a grip on the way prisoners’ property is managed”.

The report added: “The method of recording property needs to be brought into the 21st century; staff need time to follow the proper procedures; and prisoners’ property needs to travel with them when they transfer between establishments (instead of following on weeks or months later).”

The new figures show 2,625 compensation awards were made to prisoners for lost and damaged property in 2016-17.

This followed 2,693 in 2015-16, 2,590 in 2014-15 and 2,449 in 2013-14.

The total amounts paid out were: £199,086.98 in 2016-17; £190,191.71 in 2015-16; £313,347.70 in 2014-15; and £152,914.63 in 2013-14.

John O’connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “These numbers paint a terrible picture and taxpayers will be disappointed.”

An MOJ spokesman said: “We robustly defend all claims and are successful in two thirds of cases brought against us by prisoners.

“We are determined to do all we can to bring down the cost of compensation to the taxpayer, and are working to reduce costs.”