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North prisoners get cash for being in jail

Sep 27 2009 by Tom Mullen, Sunday Sun

“This is yet another example of how the European Union’s absurd human rights laws benefit the criminal at the expense of the majority.”

Three inmates - two at HMP Durham and one at HMP Acklington - made claims of £16, 250, £4,500, and £1,200.

The data, released under the Freedom of Information Act, also details more than £118,000 of further compensation payments for assaults, accidents and thefts behind bars over the last two tax years.

It comes the same year figures revealed some £30,000 had been paid out to junkie prisoners who complained they were forced to go “cold turkey” in jail.

Eight drug-addicted prisoners in Acklington, Frankland, Low Newton and Durham jails were paid a total of £30,456 after their imprisonment meant they couldn’t get their hands on heroin.

A spokesman for the Prison Service said: “We successfully defend the majority of contested claims.

“We make payments only when we are instructed to do so by the courts or where strong legal advice suggests that a settlement will save public money.

“Each compensation claim received by the Prison Service is treated on its individual merits. ”

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