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Reid promises probe into £575,000 payout to inmate
HOME Secretary John Reid yesterday pledged to investigate why £575,000 was paid in compensation to a suicidal prisoner.
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Mr Reid said he understood the growing anger over the huge out-of-court settlement to the inmate at Northallerton Young offenders' Institution, in North Yorkshire.
And he hinted strongly he would stamp out future compensation payments of that size without the Home Office first challenging it in court.
The Northern Echo revealed earlier this month how the prisoner, aged between 18 and 21, attempted to take his own life, but was saved by prison officers.
It is believed the claim centred on an alleged breach of human rights, although the Prison Service has refused to discuss the details.
Mr Reid said: "I quite understand if the public are seeing large amounts of money being paid out on grounds they consider entirely unreasonable. I don't know the individual case you are talking about, but I am happy to look into it."
Mr Reid then pointed to his record on challenging recommendations that prisoners should be released on parole as evidence that he would be tougher in future.
In only eight months in office, the Home Secretary said he had rejected 41 per cent of such recommendations - compared to only six to nine per cent by his predecessors.
Mr Reid said: "It could be that the advice was that, if you take this to court, the taxpayer will end up paying a lot more. But, even when that advice is received, I think there are occasions when a Home Secretary would say that, as a matter of principle, we should fight this.
"You can deduce what my attitude is when told 'We had better agree with the recommendations and advice you are getting, Home Secretary'. I don't always agree."
However, Mr Reid stressed that, while prisoners were deprived of their liberty, it was important to remember they were still "human beings". He added: "If all their rights are taken away, then that's when society loses its own standards."
The £4,051,310 paid out in compensation to prisoners nationally in 2005-06 was double that paid in 2004-05 - and almost six times the bill in 2003-04.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has accused the Home Office of being weak in the face of "spiraling claims masquerading as human rights".
Anger over the Northallerton case has also centred on the Prison Service's refusal to discuss why the payment was made or even when the incident took place.
Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has tabled a parliamentary question demanding to know the circumstances.
* The Northern Echo has submitted a Freedom of Information request for the full disclosure of the background to the prisoner compensation payout. The request is under consideration.
10:45am Wednesday 24th January 2007
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