HMP Lindholme: More than £230,000 paid out in compensation to injured inmates at Doncaster prison

Data released today by personal injury firm Legal Expert claims that, between 2020 and 2024, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) paid out a total of £231,006.21 for injury claims made by prisoners at HMP Lindholme.

Of that, £45,249 was paid out in compensation for claims relating to injuries caused by other prisoners, while £6,000 pertained to injuries to inmates allegedly caused by members of staff, according to the law firm.

The remaining £179,757 was paid out for ‘other personal injury’ claims, which could include issues from food contamination, animal bites and asbestos.

Concerns over the safety of both staff and inmates have grown with Britain’s overcrowded prisons hitting record levels last year. A Sheffield judge recently remarked to a man during sentencing that “[prisons are] very unpleasant for those serving sentences at the moment.”

Prisons in England and Wales have been described as facing “crisis” over over-population, and a report by OpenDemocracy in May 2024 described UK prisons as “dirty, dangerous and failing,” with more than half of inmates saying they feel “unsafe.”

The latest published prison population statistics show there are only just over 1,000 spaces left in men’s prisons, prompting former justice secretary David Gauke to release his Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) earlier than expected.

But while the prison system undergoes review and reform, costs continue to be incurred - including compensation payouts to prisoners for injury claims.

Figures obtained by Legal Expert claim that prisoner injury claims in the UK have cost the MoJ an eye-watering £9.8m in the last five years.

The most common injuries were from incidents involving prison bunk beds - resulting in £4.5m being paid to inmate claimants since 2022.

Some £2.8m was paid in damages settling claims related to slips, trips and falls and a further £446K was paid for asbestos-related injuries.

Legal Expert solicitor Lucy Parker 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.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Our jails are overcrowded, have been neglected for too long, and our hardworking staff are over-stretched. By addressing this crisis, we can begin the work of improving prison conditions to reduce the need for compensation claims and ensure taxpayer money is spent more effectively.

“The Government is investing in prison maintenance and security, and prisoners who are violent towards staff or other prisoners will face the full consequences of their actions.”