Ministry of Justice instructs BLM to audit prisoner compensation payments

The Ministry of Justice has engaged BLM to carry out an audit of prisoner compensation payments.

The law firm was asked to identify opportunities to reduce payments of damages and legal costs.

It reviewed a sample of concluded personal injury claims submitted to the prison services over a 12-month period before reporting back to the MoJ.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab said: “We have ordered an independent audit to make sure we are not being taken for a ride. We want public money focused on protecting the public and reforming offenders – not fuelling the compensation culture.” 

The review follows a year in which the Prison Service spent £28.8m overall on claims, up £7m on the previous financial year.

BLM partner and head of public sector Michael Pether, who is leading on the audit, said: “As in any area of the public sector, the Ministry of Justice is not immune to spurious and exaggerated claims levelled against it.  It is important to assess whether better and more efficient outcomes could be achieved.

“We hope this process can help to improve the way the Prison Service and the wider public sector handle claims and we look forward to sharing our findings later this month.”