Prisoners have cost taxpayers £124 million over five years thanks to comp payouts

[HARDY]

PRISONERS have landed taxpayers with a £124million compensation bill over the past five years.

The “disgusting” total arrives from payouts to lags for jail injuries and sums to guards, some for attacks.

While the Ministry of Justice has tried to restrict awards, this year’s bill rose by 26 per cent on the previous year to £26.5million.

Figures show £45.2million in the five years went to inmates.

This included £22.8million for injuries such as falls, £12.6million for the likes of medical negligence, £5.5million to bereaved families who said more should have been done to save their loved ones, and £1.4million for wrong release dates.

The data reveals there were almost 30,000 settlements to prisoners, making the average payout £1,500.

Guards got £55.3million for injuries, some after assaults by inmates.

John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This shows a disgusting level of excess. Limits should be put in place.”

But the Prison Service said: “We successfully defend two thirds of prisoner cases.”