Prison staff claims against HMP Dartmoor cost nearly £100k since 2021

Figures obtained by Accident Claims reveal that compensation claims filed by prison staff against HMP Dartmoor have amounted to nearly £100,000 since 2021. The claims, often linked to workplace accidents and assaults, shine a light on the challenges faced by prison officers in increasingly strained conditions.

Prison staff operate in demanding environments, regularly encountering high-pressure situations. Despite established safety measures, incidents leading to injuries, including slips and trips, muscle strains, and inmate assaults, continue to occur, prompting personal injury claims.

HMP Dartmoor, a Category C men’s prison located in Princetown, was closed in July 2024 following the discovery of high radon levels. The facility’s closure came amid rising concerns about the UK’s overcrowded prison system. In August 2024, the UK government launched Operation Early Dawn, an early release scheme designed to alleviate pressure on the prison population, which reached an unprecedented high that year.

While prisoner numbers grew significantly, doubling from 43,000 in 1994 to over 88,000 in 2024, the number of uniformed prison officers remained largely static. This staffing imbalance increased workloads and heightened the risk of prisoner-on-staff violence. According to the Ministry of Justice, 2023/24 saw 114 assaults on prison staff per 1,000 inmates, equating to over eight assaults per day.

Accident Claims reported that staff injury claims against HMP Dartmoor have cost £88,637 over the past three years, with 2021/22 seeing the highest amount at £53,269.50. Nationally, data from HM Prison and Probation Service shows that 1,628 claims were filed against UK prisons in the past five years, 592 of which have been settled. The most common claims involved prisoner assaults (637 cases), followed by slips, trips, and falls, as well as Control and Restraint injuries, each accounting for over 200 claims.

Campaigners argue that investing in safer and more humane prison environments could reduce compensation claims and lower costs to taxpayers. Speaking to the Byline Times, Peter Dawson of the Prison Reform Trust commented: “Our prison system is failing on every front, as these numbers show. But unusually this is a public service which could be fixed by reducing demand rather than increasing supply. The political love affair with imprisonment as a symbol of toughness lies at the root of the problem, and both main parties are to blame.”

Legal experts say that it is important to support prison staff in seeking rightful compensation for injuries sustained on duty. JF Law solicitor Lucy Parker, speaking to Accident Claims, stated: “Prison staff face a unique and challenging environment daily. When they are injured due to negligence, whether it’s an assault by an inmate, a slip and fall, or inadequate safety measures, they have the right to seek compensation. It’s crucial for prison staff to understand their legal rights and seek professional legal advice to ensure their claim is handled fairly.”

Accident Claims provides free legal advice and support for prison staff injured on duty, operating a 24-hour helpline and an online claims form accessible via their website.

https://www.accidentclaims.co.uk/accident-at-work-claim/prison-officer-compensation-claims