HMP Berwyn prisoners claim thousands for bunkbed mishaps and 'injuries by staff'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Prisons can be dangerous places for inmates and not always for the reasons you might expect. Over the last five years, tens of thousands of pounds have been paid out at HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, in compensation for personal injuries such as animal bites and bunk bed mishaps.
Compensation figures were released amid growing concerns for the safety of both staff and inmates, with Britain's overcrowded prisons hitting record levels last year. Latest prison population statistics show there are only just over 1,000 spaces left in men's prisons.
Between 2020 and 2024, pay-outs worth more than £133,000 were settled at HMP Berwyn, Wrexham's Category C men's prison. A sizeable tranche was as a result of injuries caused by other prisoners (£48,918).
A further £31,603 related to prisoner injuries caused by members of staff. But the biggest category was 'other personal injury', which could include asbestos, food contamination and bunk bed scrapes. At Berwyn, the largest prison in England and Wales with a capacity of 2,106 inmates, this amounted to £53,300 over the five years.
Freedom of Information figures obtained by Legal Expert revealed that, across all of the UK's prisons, bunk beds resulted in the biggest personal injury claims, with £4.5m being paid to inmates since 2022. Next most costly were slips, trips and falls.
At Berwyn, claims across all categories peaked in 2022 when £47,514.74 was paid to prisoners. Since then, annual settlements have amounted to £29,564 in 2023 and £32,124 last year. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
According to Legal Expert's figures, Berwyn's staff-on-inmate claims were among the highest in UK prisons. Pay-outs in this category were bigger only at HMPs Pentonville, Nottingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Aylesbury, Highpoint and Highdown.
(Image: Legal Expert)
At two UK prisons, the compensation claims ran to millions. Topping the list was HMP Chelmsford (£5.57m over five years), largely due to substantial prisoner-on-prisoner pay-outs.
Second was HMP Leicester (£3.21m over five years), nearly all of it relating to 'other personal injury' claims.
In terms of the overall compensation rankings, the Wrexham prison was outside the top 10, with a total bill of £133,821. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
(Image: Legal Expert)
Reform of the prison system has been promised but until this happens, compensation pay-outs to prisoners are likely to continue, said Legal Expert solicitor Lucy Parker. In the last five years the UK bill came to an eye-watering £9.8m.
She added: '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.'
By the end of last year, the prison population in England and Wales was more than 85,000, having increased by more than 40,000 since 1993. A review of the justice system is being led by former justice secretary David Gauke, who published an interim report in February warning prisons were overcrowded and "on the brink of collapse".
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.'
Find crime figures for your area
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
'Dangerous' North Wales teacher jailed for string of child sex offences
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A former North Wales teacher has been jailed for eight years with four more years on licence after committing a string of child sex offences. Simon Clark, 46, from Ellesmere Port but now of no fixed address, posed as a boy of 14 on Snapchat to snare child sex abuse victims over the internet over a nine-month period. Clark used the false name Jamie Jones on the app to trick young girls - with one victim as young as ten. You can read more about the case here. A judge at Chester Crown Court today said he had no doubt his offending would have continued if he hadn't been stopped after the mother of one victim noticed Clark's messages and reported him to police. It was every parent's nightmare, he said. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here Police previously branded Clark a "sexual predator" with "warped sexual desires" after he admitted 26 offences against 26 victims at Chester Crown Court. He also pleaded guilty to three more offences of making indecent images of children. The judge His Honour Simon Berkson said the truth must have been a "terrible shock" for his victims. He classed Clark as a "dangerous" offender whose crimes had been sophisticated. He said he must serve up to two thirds of his eight years in custody before he would be eligible to apply for parole. Clark admitted one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, two of inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity and two counts of inciting a child under 16 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity. He also admitted 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16, making 26 indecent images of children of Category A, making 29 indecent images of children of Category B and making 81 indecent images of children of Category C. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
Penrhyn Bay bar owner describes 'horrendous' moment car smashes into building
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Owners of a craft ale bar were left in momentary shock after a car smashed into their building. Before impact they heard the screeching of tyres braking followed by an 'horrendous noise' as the whole building shook. A man has since been arrested in connection with the incident at the Craft Beer Cave in Penrhyn Bay, Conwy yesterday evening (Thursday, June 5). A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, driving without a licence, driving with no insurance, failing to stop, and dangerous driving. He remains in police custody. Bar owners Roland Edwards and Beverley Williams were clearing up after closing the bar when they heard the sound of a car braking. It was around 8.40pm. Beverley said: 'I was chatting to three customers and we heard the sound of tyres screeching way before the car hit the building - it must have gone on for 10-15 seconds. 'The whole building shook. The noise was horrendous - it woke up a friend of mine at the back of her house 200 yards away. Although we were inside, we knew immediately what must have happened. 'For a few seconds we stood there in shock before going outside to see what had happened." She said when they got out the car had gone from the scene. She added: 'How he missed the roadside bollards and lamppost, I don't know. Luckily, our bins are placed by the wall and they took some of the impact. You could see the tyre marks for 200 yards where the car had been braking hard.' Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community (Image: Craft Beer Cave) (Image: Craft Beer Cave) The Craft Beer Cave reopened this morning and the building is due to be assessed for structural damage. Photos show cracks in the wall, damaged fencing and a series of squashed waste bins. Beverley said: 'The damage is actually worse than it looks in the photos because the wall has bulged in. "Hopefully it's only superficial and we can keep going. But as small buisiness owners, this is something we could do without.' North Wales Police is appealing for CCTV and dashcam footage of the incident. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox (Image: Craft Beer Cave) (Image: Craft Beer Cave) The force said officers were called to the scene at 8.44pm. 'A Jaguar X-Type car had collided with the building and the driver then left the scene,' said a spokesperson. 'Officers responded and a search commenced. The vehicle was located nearby and a 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, driving without a licence, driving with no insurance, failing to stop, and dangerous driving. 'He remains in police custody. We are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage to contact North Wales Police via the website or by calling 101 quoting reference number 25000463170.' The Craft Beer Cave opened in December 2022. As well as offering craft ales, it sells Welsh spirits such as Great Orme Gin, Penderyn, Aber Falls,and Barti Spiced Rum. Its owners have long experience in the sector, opening a Penrhyn Bay beer cave in 2007 before relocating to their present site. Until February 2022, they also ran the B-More Local convenience store in the town before selling up. Find crime figures for your area
North Wales Live
7 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Penrhyn Bay bar owner describes 'horrendous' moment car smashes into building
Owners of a craft ale bar were left in momentary shock after a car smashed into their building. Before impact they heard the screeching of tyres braking followed by an 'horrendous noise' as the whole building shook. A man has since been arrested in connection with the incident at the Craft Beer Cave in Penrhyn Bay, Conwy yesterday evening (Thursday, June 5). A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, driving without a licence, driving with no insurance, failing to stop, and dangerous driving. He remains in police custody. Bar owners Roland Edwards and Beverley Williams were clearing up after closing the bar when they heard the sound of a car braking. It was around 8.40pm. Beverley said: 'I was chatting to three customers and we heard the sound of tyres screeching way before the car hit the building - it must have gone on for 10-15 seconds. 'The whole building shook. The noise was horrendous - it woke up a friend of mine at the back of her house 200 yards away. Although we were inside, we knew immediately what must have happened. 'For a few seconds we stood there in shock before going outside to see what had happened." She said when they got out the car had gone from the scene. She added: 'How he missed the roadside bollards and lamppost, I don't know. Luckily, our bins are placed by the wall and they took some of the impact. You could see the tyre marks for 200 yards where the car had been braking hard.' The Craft Beer Cave reopened this morning and the building is due to be assessed for structural damage. Photos show cracks in the wall, damaged fencing and a series of squashed waste bins. Beverley said: 'The damage is actually worse than it looks in the photos because the wall has bulged in. "Hopefully it's only superficial and we can keep going. But as small buisiness owners, this is something we could do without.' North Wales Police is appealing for CCTV and dashcam footage of the incident. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox The force said officers were called to the scene at 8.44pm. 'A Jaguar X-Type car had collided with the building and the driver then left the scene,' said a spokesperson. 'Officers responded and a search commenced. The vehicle was located nearby and a 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, driving without a licence, driving with no insurance, failing to stop, and dangerous driving. 'He remains in police custody. We are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage to contact North Wales Police via the website or by calling 101 quoting reference number 25000463170.' The Craft Beer Cave opened in December 2022. As well as offering craft ales, it sells Welsh spirits such as Great Orme Gin, Penderyn, Aber Falls,and Barti Spiced Rum. Its owners have long experience in the sector, opening a Penrhyn Bay beer cave in 2007 before relocating to their present site. Until February 2022, they also ran the B-More Local convenience store in the town before selling up.
