Prisoners receive £3m in payouts

Prisoners in England and Wales received more than £3 million in compensation payments last year, figures have revealed.

This includes more than £530,000 paid to prisoners who were assaulted by prison staff and £1.6 million after 12 cases of medical negligence were settled in 2009/10.

The figure, which soared to £3,286,521 in 2009/10, is almost double the total for 2008/09 which was £1,669,312.

Figures released by the Ministry of Justice in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association show that last year:

:: £1,609,250 was paid out in medical negligence cases;

:: £534,628 was paid out in compensation for assaults by staff;

:: £259,943 was paid out for unlawful detention.

The figures reveal that in the last five years £13,069,631 has been paid out in compensation to prisoners.

The highest single payout since 2005/06 was £2.8 million for a personal injury claim, with the second biggest payment standing at £1.14 million for medical negligence.