August 9th 2024.
Paul Blackburn was recently informed that he must reimburse the government for the room and board expenses incurred during his time in prison. This decision also applies to other individuals who have been wrongfully incarcerated in what are now deemed as "historic" cases of miscarriages of justice. One such person is Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.
Malkinson, who was falsely accused of rape while working as a security guard, was recently told that the government will be deducting the costs for "bed and board" from his compensation payout. This news came as a shock to Malkinson and others in similar situations, especially since the former Justice Secretary had previously abolished this policy. However, the government has now stated that those who have already received compensation cannot seek reimbursement for the deducted amount.
Paul Blackburn is another victim of this policy. After being wrongfully imprisoned for 25 years, he received compensation in 2011. However, he was dismayed to find out that £100,000 had been taken out of his payout to cover the supposed rent and food costs he would have incurred if he were a free man. According to Blackburn, this amount was calculated based on the assumption that he would have never been employed and would have relied on benefits - a situation he describes as being punished twice.
In a recent interview with BBC Radio 4, Blackburn stated that he may take legal action against the government, urging them to "do the right thing" and correct this injustice. Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds has defended the government's decision, stating that it is common practice not to apply policy changes retroactively. Unfortunately, this news is yet another setback for those who have been wrongfully imprisoned and are seeking compensation.
Malkinson, who has also been fighting for compensation, previously expressed his frustration with the government's slow response in addressing these issues. Despite launching an inquiry into his case, the government has not made any progress in adjusting the cap on compensation payouts, which has remained at £1,000,000 since 2008. He also criticized the refusal to account for inflation in this amount, making it inadequate for the suffering and loss experienced by those who have been wrongfully convicted.
In response to these concerns, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that the Lord Chancellor has taken steps to address this issue by scrapping the "saved living costs" deduction from compensation and proposing changes to legal aid rules. They also assured that this would not affect or delay Malkinson's plans to seek further compensation from the police. However, this statement has not alleviated the disappointment and frustration felt by those who have been wrongfully imprisoned and are seeking justice.
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