A new investigation has revealed prisoner injury claims at HMP Isle of Wight have cost thousands in compensation settlements in the last 5 years, including more than £230,000 paid out to those involved in a serious fire a decade ago.
New data obtained by Legal Expert has revealed that between 2020 and 2024, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) paid out a total of £268,371 for injury claims made by prisoners at HMP Isle of Wight across its 2 sites, Albany and Parkhurst.
Of that, £4,994 was paid out in compensation for claims relating to injuries caused by other prisoners. The remaining £263,378 was classed as ‘other personal injury’, which could include injuries from bunk beds, food contamination, animal bites and asbestos.
In 2020, the MoJ – which is funded by the taxpayer- forked out £5,005 settling prisoner injury claims from inmates at HMP Isle of Wight followed by £14,295.70 the year after and a staggering £231,814 in 2022.
It is known that 2022’s payment relates to an out-of-court settlement made with more than 20 prisoners relating to a major fire in 2015.
It was on 18th February 2015 when a fire that had been started intentionally by a prisoner, Dino Laximidas, broke out in Alpha Wing of House Unit 15 whilst prisoners were locked in their cells and unable to evacuate.
7 years after the major incident, prisoners who suffered physical and psychological harm received a payout after taking legal action against the Ministry of Justice. It wasn’t disclosed at the time how much had been paid out, but new data reveals the total to be just over £230,000.
A further £13,256.50 was paid out in compensation claims generally in 2023, as well as £4,000 in 2024.
Lucy Parker, solicitor at Legal Expert, has said:
“Prisoners, like anyone else, have a right to their safety while incarcerated. We have seen many different cases over the years of prisoners suffering injuries during their incarceration, from accidents in workshops and kitchens to incidents with staff.
“When they are injured due to negligence, whether it’s at the hands of an officer, a slip and fall, or inadequate safety measures, they have the right to seek compensation and to get legal advice on their case.”
Joke..
Any public body, be it schools, hospitals, armed forces, council offices or prisons who all have a duty of care to clients or staff can be found negligent and compensation awarded. All people, regardless of colour, creed, persuasion OR criminality retain their human rights. The punishment of prison does not strip them of fundamental rights, except curtail their liberty. Where that curtailment places their right to life in jeopardy (eg., fire in a locked cell) the prison service can and should be held accountable. Should ANY of those rights not be maintained it would open the legal door for any shoddy treatment whatsoever to any one of us. That is why we have the same laws for everybody.
Also note that in a 5 year period, the IOW NHS Trust paid out £16.6m in compensation. Was this piece about the money from taxation in general or a dog-whistle for those in jail as somehow undeserving of human standards of justice?
You sunshine and your out moded thinking are one of the people who have got us into this mess. Prisons are a punishment ment to protect the law abiding not rest homes for the villains which is what they have become and its people like you who have made them so .
Well spokedTezza.
One of the main reasons for all these claims is explained by the last two paragraphs. Solicitors. They pretend to represent people and will be likely to take the majority of any compensation. Trouble is we now live in a society of where’s there’s a blame there’s a claim.
Sounds like people inside can make more
money than those on the outside.
Didn’t happen in Norman Stanley Fletchers days.
Lol
A prisoner starts a fire, other inmates suffer injury and the prison is liable because it failed to keep the prisoners safe. The world really is mad.
By all means treat injuries and give care and protection where appropriate, but financial compensation is ridiculous when all of their care, food and housing is provided for free. If I sustained an injury from my own bed, food or animals, I’m pretty sure I won’t get compensated. I wonder how many prisoners recieve compensation before their victims?