PRISONERS GET CAB-RIDE TO HOSPITAL 200 YARDS AWAY
Inmates in Lincoln Prison taken to hospital by taxi have cost taxpayers more than £5,000
Wednesday September 29, 2010
Prison bosses came under fire last night after it emerged sick inmates were ferried 200 yards by taxi to a hospital across the road.
Officials at Lincoln Prison have used cabs to take prisoners to Lincoln County Hospital for non-emergency treatment 940 times since November 2006, at a cost of £5,467.
The Ministry of Justice cabs were used to avoid the risk of prisoners accidentally meeting their victims or their families.
But campaign groups have reacted angrily, accusing the prison service of “frittering away money”.
Emma Boon, from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be shocked to hear thousands have been spent transporting inmates such a short distance.
“If it really is out of the question for inmates to walk then using the existing prison vehicle would be far more cost-effective than taking a taxi? It really is time the authorities put some effort in to getting a better deal for taxpayers, rather than frittering away money like this.”
The Ministry of Justice said it uses taxis only if a prison vehicle is not available. A spokesman added: “Requiring a prisoner to walk to the hospital places him in a public area and at possible risk of meeting the victim or a member of the victim’s family that may live in the local area.
“A potential risk of an assault or threat of assault exists and this could involve staff being attacked. In addition the risk of a possible escape attempt aided by associates of the prisoner is also heightened.
“As the reason for the prisoner being required to attend hospital is a medical problem this in itself may mean the person is unable to walk the distance involved.”
Source; http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/202 ... yards-away
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Lincoln Prison confirms £5,000 taxi bill
28 September 2010
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed more than £5,000 was spent on taxis taking Lincoln Prison inmates to a hospital across the road.
Official figures show 940 journeys costing £5,467 were taken from the category B facility to Lincoln County Hospital since November 2006.
A spokesman said taxis were only used when no other transport was available and after a risk assessment.
He added that it would not be appropriate to allow prisoners to walk.
'Massive' spending
The most expensive year was 2008 with £1,873 being spent on 326 trips but this was almost halved the following year.
A spokesman said: "Taxis are not routinely used for transporting prisoners but they are used for exceptional journeys, subject to risk assessment, where prison or other transport is not available or appropriate, and where it is cost-effective to do so.
"In allowing a prisoner to walk to a hospital, this could heighten the risk of a possible escape attempt, could put them at risk of meeting the victim or a member of the victim's family and put them, or a member of staff, in danger of an assault."
The Prison Reform Trust said it was right questions were asked but the prison was following the rules.
Its deputy director Geoff Dobson said: "I can understand they want to avoid prisoners escaping and they want to avoid victims facing prisoners in the walk across the road, so that does justify the expenditure.
"But it is good the question is being asked in the light of the massive amount of money that (the prisons) are spending."
Both the prison and the hospital are on Greetwell Road.
Source; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-li ... e-11426201
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