Police Custody: Compensation

Mr. Grieve
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many compensation claims for loss or damage to prisoners' property left in the custody of the Prison Service were made in the last year for which figures are available; and what amount of compensation was claimed.

Mr. Straw
In the period 1 April 2008 to 11 March 2009, 130 compensation claims were made by prisoners in respect of lost or damaged property. 79 of those were filed in the small claims court. Information is not available for the amount claimed, but 49 of the 130 claims have now been settled for a total of £6,139. Claims made through the internal request/complaints procedure or through the prisons and probation ombudsman are no recorded centrally.