Criminals in hospital to lose advantages as Labour closes ‘loophole’ | EUROtoday

Serious criminals receiving as a lot as £800 a month in advantages may quickly lose their entitlement below Labour proposals to shut a loophole in welfare guidelines.

Under present guidelines, an offender sentenced to a hospital order is ready to be paid a full award for common credit score, regardless of somebody in jail on the identical sentence being banned from claiming most advantages.

The authorities has pledged to crack down on this “loophole”, guaranteeing that each teams of criminals are topic to the identical guidelines.

Prime minister Keir Starmer mentioned: “It cannot be right that offenders convicted of the most serious crimes continue to receive benefits they don’t need at the expense of the taxpayer.

“I’m determined to do whatever it takes to stand up for victims, protect taxpayers, and ensure support goes to those who genuinely need it.”

The loophole was beforehand raised by households of victims of the 2023 Nottingham assaults – Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates – who had referred to as for it to be addressed.

Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden mentioned: “I don’t think there’s a single household in Britain who believes it’s right that convicted criminals receive thousands of pounds a year in benefits.

“It’s unfair to victims’ families and to taxpayers whose hard-earned cash ends up in the pockets of offenders, and contrary to our values – we don’t reward acts of violence.

“That’s why I’m acting to right the wrongs within our benefits system, so it supports people who genuinely need it, while delivering fairness to the taxpayer.”

Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Dr Sinead O’Malley, dad and mom of Grace, mentioned: “We are delighted to hear this announcement from the secretary of state.

“For us, the campaigning families, this is what decisive and bold departmental leadership looks like. Pat’s actions benefit our country and our communities. As a result, our country now leads many countries across Europe on this issue.”

Linda and Leon Westcarr, the mom and uncle of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, who was murdered by her associate in 2024, mentioned: “We welcome this long-overdue reform to the benefits system, which corrects a clear injustice that has caused real harm for too long.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says it can have interaction with victims’ teams and psychological well being consultants on the proposals. Offenders will proceed to obtain free care and psychological well being assist from the NHS following any change.

No official estimates of what number of offenders will likely be affected or if the transfer will save the federal government something have been made. An offender on common credit score and its increased well being ingredient, residing in a single family and over the age of 25, may at the moment obtain round £823 per thirty days.

Julian Hendy from the Hundred Families charity, which helps households after psychological health-related killings, mentioned: “This is very welcome news. We have long argued that paying welfare benefits to people who have committed serious violent crimes is wrong and cannot be justified. They’re offenders sentenced to hospital orders who have no costs or need for such payments.”