Pubdate: Sun, 20 Jan 2008
Source: Wales on Sunday (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Trinity Mirror Plc
Contact:  http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3763
Author: Matt Withers, Wales On Sunday

DRUG ADDICTS GET COLD TURKEY COMPENSATION

THOUSANDS of pounds is being paid out in compensation to drug addict 
prisoners being forced to go cold turkey in Welsh jails, a Wales on 
Sunday investigation has revealed.

While many victims of crime receive paltry sums in compensation after 
the turmoil they have been through, the Prison Service is being 
forced to pay out to jailbirds having to go without drugs.

It followed claims the practice amounts to assault and a breach of 
human rights.

Almost UKP11,500 was paid out to three drug addicts in Cardiff and 
Parc prisons in the past year alone.

The sum paid to addicts was part of more than UKP50,000 paid out in 
compensation to prisoners in Welsh jails last year for a number of reasons.

The Ministry of Justice said they had to settle a number of 
compensation claims for prisoners due to "the way they went through detox".

But the payouts have been fiercely criticised, with one MP describing 
it as "a lose-lose situation for the taxpayer".

The settlements originate from a test case two years ago when six 
claimants from across Wales and England were given the green light to 
sue the Home Office.

They said once in jail, and under the responsibility of the Prison 
Service in England and Wales, they were made to go cold turkey - 
where drugs are withdrawn or cut short.

Our probe comes amid increasing evidence convicts are exploiting 
human rights laws to make a profit from their time in jail.

The figures were finally released after Wales on Sunday complained to 
the National Offender Management Service following seven months of 
heel-dragging by officials.

Conservative MP David Davies said: "Not only are they getting 
compensation, they are being funded by the taxpayer to put these 
claims in. It's a lose-lose situation for the taxpayer.

"Cold turkey is not all it's cracked up to be. People seem to have 
got their ideas from Trainspotting.

"Actually, most informed medical opinion says taking alcohol away 
from an alcoholic can be a far more difficult experience for them.

"I've got no sympathy for them, I'm afraid. Nobody forces them to get 
into crack in the first place."

Peter Stoker, Director of the National Drug Prevention Alliance, said 
he thought lawyers were taking advantage of the system and big 
changes needed to be made.

Prisoners should "absolutely" not be able to get drugs in jail, he added.

He said: "They've been put up to it. There are a lot of liberal 
lawyers and organisations around and this is the kind of thing that 
they will come up with.

"My gut feeling is like a lot of people's gut feeling, that I think 
there has to be a question as to what extent somebody who is 
convicted has foregone many of their human rights by committing the 
crimes they did in the first place.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to wean prisoners 
off drugs as soon as possible.

"I find it as wacky as the general public do. All I can say is I 
think it's now generating enough concern that it's time the 
Government and the Prison Service looked at it again."

But the charity Drugscope defended the practice, saying the Prison 
Service had a "duty of care" to prisoners with a drug addiction.

Chief Executive Martin Barnes said: "It is clearly established in law 
that prisoners are entitled to the same standard of health care that 
they would receive in the community; the medical care received by 
claimants under the original action had fallen well below acceptable 
standards. After seeking legal advice, the Home Office accepted full 
liability in all the cases.

"It is clear, however, that short, sharp, enforced detoxification is 
still the experience for many entering prison, even for those who 
were in receipt of a prescribed substitute drug such as methadone 
prior to custody.

"Not only can enforced detoxification be extremely unpleasant, it 
does not mean that someone will remain free of drugs or their dependency."

The Ministry of Justice said: "Each compensation claim received by 
the Prison Service is treated on its individual merits. Legal advice 
is sought and, on the basis of that advice, a decision is made on 
whether or not the claim should be defended.

"We cannot therefore comment on individual cases or the reasons that 
they were settled, as the terms of each settlement vary and may be 
subject to confidentiality clauses." 
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