Nearly 200 prisoners who were forced to go ”cold turkey” and give up drugs without treatment while in jail accepted £750 000 compensation from the government in the High Court on Tuesday.
The prisoners had argued that the short, sharp detoxification treatment in prison was a breach of their human rights.
Legal sources said all but two of the 197 claimants are believed to have agreed to the settlement for the ”pain and suffering” they were subjected to while serving their prison sentences without the aid of drug-withdrawal medication.
The group of drug-addicted inmates from prisons across Britain said they had not given consent and that their ”negligent” treatment amounted to assault.
They all suffered from addiction to opiates such as heroin before and during their detention.
They said their alleged inappropriate treatment had left them suffering from withdrawal problems.
At a brief hearing on Tuesday, Judge Justice Brian Langstaff formally approved the settlement agreed between the prisoners and the Home Secretary.
The lawyer representing six of the claimants said the Prison Service had failed to provide suitable care towards people in their charge.
”This was litigation premised upon the long-recognised principle that the only thing that prisoners lose upon passing through prison gates is their liberty,” Richard Hermer said.
”They remain entitled to humane and decent treatment at the hands of the authorities and that includes access to appropriate health-care facilities.”
Legal experts said the claimants were successful in their action against the government because legislation requires that prisoners are entitled to the same level of medical treatment as other Britons.
On Monday, the Home Office agreed to settle six cases out of court over the issue, prompting criticism from the opposition Conservatives.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the government was letting down the taxpayer by paying off the prisoners. — Reuters