Government Scraps Living Cost Deductions on Miscarriage of Justice Compensation
The UK government has pulled a major U-turn after public fury over compensation rules for the wrongly convicted. From Sunday, anyone wrongfully imprisoned will get their full payout—no more deductions for “living costs” while behind bars.
Andrew Malkinson’s 17-Year Ordeal Spurs Reform
Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years locked up for a rape he didn’t commit, welcomed the change as “long overdue”. His conviction was finally quashed last week after new DNA evidence cleared his name. But Malkinson feared the government would still deduct expenses from any compensation to cover the cost of his imprisonment—an “abhorrent” rule he slammed.
Downing Street and Justice Secretary Back the Move
Under pressure, PM Rishi Sunak and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk swiftly scrapped the contentious deduction policy. Chalk updated the compensation scheme guidance, applying the reform retroactively back to 2006. He declared it unfair for innocent victims to lose part of their payout for expenses incurred by the state.
Calls Grow for Broader Justice Overhaul and Back Payments
Malkinson isn’t stopping there. He’s demanding a tougher look at police evidence handling and jury verdict rules, plus quicker compensation claims processing. Campaigners also want the government to repay families who’ve already had money clipped from past awards. Sir Bob Neill, Tory MP and Commons Justice Chair, praised the quick fix and suggested case-by-case ex-gratia payments for those deducted sums.
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Alistair Carmichael blasted the old rule as a “sick joke,” urging full compensation for all wrongly convicted. The miscarriage of justice compensation scheme offers up to £1 million for those imprisoned more than ten years, provided they prove innocence beyond doubt and meet strict criteria.
This reform marks a crucial victory for justice—but many say it’s just the start of a fight to right all past wrongs in the system.
