Living costs deduction scrapped for wrongly convicted
(Posted on 06/08/23)
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Living costs deduction are to be scrapped for those who are wrongly convicted.
It was confirmed today by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk that the rule would be scrapped, calling it a "common sense change which will ensure victims do not face paying twice for crimes they did not commit".
He told the BBC: "Fairness is a core pillar of our justice system and it is not right that victims of devastating miscarriages of justice can have deductions made for saved living expenses."
But the government has not committed to reimbursing wrongly convicted people who have had the so called 'savings' applied to their compensation since the rule was introduced.
Victims of miscarriages of justice can be paid up to £1m under the government compensation scheme.
But since a House of Lords ruling in 2007, the total amount is subject to deductions on the basis that victims have also saved money on housing and food while in prison. Around £48,000 for every year spent in prison can be deducted.
