MoJ refused to repay living costs to wrongly convicted partly to save money

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/21/moj-refused-to-repay-living-costs-to-wrongly-convicted-partly-to-save-money

Posted by Fox_9810

9 Comments

  1. Acrobatic-Stable6017 on

    I’ll confess up front to not knowing how any of this works, but why don’t the MoJ just award less compensation? Even though it’s morally just as reprehensible, it would be far less egregious to receive £700k up front, rather than £800k-£100k. 

    I assume it’s not the MoJ setting the compensation? Or at least an independent arm of it? But then why allow the docking of comp in the first place? 

    On a separate note, this article implies that the £100k is based on his living costs outside of prison? Is that correct, because if so that is some rough salt in the wound. I know you’ve been locked in a box, but we’ll charge you as if it was a 2 bed flat. 

  2. I can’t believe the MOJ was ever allowed to get away with that.

    *We’ve kept you locked up for xx years because WE cocked up and now we’re going to charge you for the “privilege”.*

    WTAF

  3. Original_Success3895 on

    I’m sure there will be a Labour defender here any minute to tell us this is out of the Government’s hands to fix.

  4. bateau_du_gateau on

    Sack the blundering civil servants, use their salaries and pension to pay compensation to their victims, very simple 

  5. AnalThermometer on

    Basically the state completely ruined this guys life, with two detectives creating false information to imprison a 15 year old. This should be a slam dunk example of an miscarriage of justice the former barrister and Director of Public Prosecutions, Kier Starmer, will surely be aghast about and make right.

    >Blackburn and two other wrongly jailed prisoners initially approached the MoJ via their lawyers under the Conservative government to request the money be reimbursed. But after the election, the new Labour government said it would not reimburse them.

    Oh

  6. AtmosphereNo2384 on

    > Sorry we ruined your reputation, your careers, deprived you of the best years of your life and precious moments with your children and elderly loved ones. Here’s the bill for bed and board.

    British state moment.

  7. Well obviously … we’re talking about a government department. The people getting the compensation come right at the bottom of the list of things they care about.

    On the other hand, cost is way up there, either at the top, or very near it, usually competing with appearance.

  8. Devilsadvocateuk on

    This is the system which has been in place for decades and, despite challenges by high profile victims of miscarriage such as the Birmingham six and Michael Hickey, it continues to be the case.