Cash-strapped Ministry of Justice chiefs have paid out more than £20 million in compensation claims made by prisoners across the UK over the past five years, a shock investigation has revealed. New data has revealed that between 2020 and 2024, the taxpayer-funded Ministry has spent a total of £20,122,192.35 settling injury claims made by inmates across His Majesty’s Prisons.

Claims include injuries caused by other prisoners as well as injuries to inmates caused by members of staff. Nearly £10m of the overall sum was for personal injury compensation claims which included, a staggering £4.5m for injuries caused by bunk beds. A further £2.7m was paid out for slips, trips and falls as well as £446K for asbestos-related injuries.

But with Britain’s overcrowded prisons hitting record levels last year, there are increased concerns over the future safety of both staff and inmates have grown.

The latest published prison population statistics show there are approximately just 1,000 spaces left in men’s prisons.

This over-crowding crisis prompted former justice secretary David Gauke to release his Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) earlier than expected.

In the interim report, Mr Gauke says he is confronting “the consequences of decades of haphazard policy-making and underinvestment in the criminal justice system - bringing it to the brink of collapse.”

In September, the government’s SDS40 - standard determinate sentencing scheme - saw prisoners released just 40 per cent of the way through their sentence.

In the time frame, for every 100 people released from prison, 67 were recalled.

Although Mr Gauke’s report does acknowledge that “factors including the introduction of a mandatory supervision period for shorter sentences, and heightened probation officer risk aversion… have contributed to this increase.”

But while the prison system undergoes review and reform, costs continue to be incurred - including compensation payouts to prisoners for injury claims.

The findings by Legal Expert show that out of 111 UK prisons with prisoner injury claims, HMP Chelmsford in Essex recorded the highest compensation payouts, totalling £5,573,343.98 between 2022 and 2024.

The second-highest amount was logged at HMP Leicester with £3,210,729.80 doled out in the last five years followed by HMP Brixton with £639,091.75.

Legal Expert solicitor Lucy Parker said: “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.”

The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.