Prison Officer Compensation Claims

Working in a prison can be a demanding and dangerous job. The prison service has a legal duty to ensure that all employees are safe in the workplace, but accidents and injuries are common among prison officers.

Along with other incidents, prison officer assaults are on the rise, according to the Ministry of Justice. Between June 2018 and 2019, there were 10,424 incidents, a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Assault and accidents can cause various injuries to prison officers, including stab wounds, severe lacerations, fractures, and head and back injuries.

If you suffered injuries due to a prison officer assault, a slip, trip or fall, or any other workplace accident, you might be entitled to compensation. To find out if you have a valid case, arrange a free consultation with an experienced legal adviser by calling 0800 470 0474 or requesting a call back.

Find out if you can claim

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By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.

Table of Contents

• Can I start a prison officer compensation claim?
• What evidence do I need to claim prison officer compensation?
• Common incidents leading to a prison officer injury claim
  • Slips and trips at work
  • Prison officer assaults
  • Manual handling injuries
  • Breaking up fights
• Common injuries sustained by prison officers and staff
• HM Prison Service duty of care
• Frequently asked questions
• Can I lose my job if I make a prison officer compensation claim?
• How much prison officer compensation could I receive for my injuries?
• What is the time limit to start a prison injury compensation claim?
• Can I benefit from a No Win No Fee service?

Can I start a prison officer compensation claim?

If you suffered an injury while working in a prison, you might be entitled to compensation. As an employer, the Prison Service is responsible for ensuring your safety and well-being. Any accident or prison officer assault could be due to a breach of duty and may lead to a valid prison officer injury claim.

The easiest way to find out if you are entitled to compensation is during a free chat with a friendly legal adviser. They will ask you several questions about what happened to you, how it happened, and the injuries you sustained. If your case has merit, you will be paired with a solicitor with experience securing prison officer compensation. They will guide you through all the steps of the claims process and negotiate with the defendant on your behalf.

If you were the victim of a prison officer assault, but your employer took all the safety measures dictated by the legislation to protect you, you might not be able to make a claim against them. Instead, you could claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA is an executive agency of the government that pays personal injury compensation to blameless victims of violent crimes.

Based on your free initial consultation, your personal injury solicitor will be able to advise you on your next steps and the legal options available to you.

What evidence do I need to claim prison officer compensation?

If you want to make a claim for prison officer compensation, you will need evidence to show that you were the victim of negligence or wrongdoing. You must also be able to prove the extent of your injuries and how these have affected your life. To support your claim, there are certain things you can do after the incident or accident:

• Make sure you report it to your manager or supervisor and ensure they record the details in an accident log book. A copy of this report will prove the date, time, location and circumstances of how you suffered the injuries;
• Seek medical care at your local A&E, a minor injuries unit or with your GP as soon as possible. Their report will show the type and extent of the harm you suffered and the treatments you received;
• Write down how the events unfolded and how these have affected your life in as much detail as possible;
• Record the names and contact details of anyone who may have witnessed the accident or prison officer assault. Their statements may help prove liability and confirm your version of the incident;
• Take photographs or a video of the accident scene and any hazards that contributed to your injuries;
• Try to secure a copy of CCTV footage if surveillance cameras captured your accident;
• Keep documents for any financial losses and expenses you incurred as a direct result of the accident, such as receipts, invoices and bank statements.

Your solicitor will help you gather all the evidence you need to secure prison officer compensation.

Common incidents leading to a prison officer injury claim

Prison staff can face various hazards and risks while carrying out their duties. Situations that can lead to a prison officer compensation claim include:

Slips and trips at work

Slips and trips are some of the most common accidents that occur in every workplace despite being preventable. While they may seem trivial, slips, trips and falls may lead to severe injuries, such as fractures, spinal cord damage and head trauma. Such accidents could be due to:

• Wet or slippery floors
• Poor lighting and housekeeping
• Uneven steps or pavements
• Damaged flooring
• Objects left on walkways

Prison officer assaults

Assaults by inmates pose a significant risk to people working within prisons. These incidents can result in injuries ranging from minor bruises to severe physical harm. Besides the physical injuries, a violent crime can cause emotional trauma and PTSD. In such cases, you could claim prison officer assault compensation from the Prison Service or the CICA. Your employer may be liable for negligence if you are assaulted at work and:

• You did not receive sufficient training
• You did not have proper protective equipment
• You were understaffed
• They failed to carry out an adequate risk assessment
• An inmate had a history of violence, and they did not take the necessary safety precautions

Manual handling injuries

Prison officers may be required to move heavy objects or restrain inmates during altercations. Inadequate training or equipment can lead to manual handling injuries such as sprains and strains. Some common scenarios that may result in an accident at work claim while working in a prison include:

• Lack of training in safe manual handling techniques
• Lack of lifting equipment
• Poor ergonomics
• Failing to assess the risks associated with manual handling tasks
• Lack of adequate breaks

Breaking up fights

Prison officers often intervene to break up fights among inmates or control prison riots. While doing so, they can be exposed to physical harm. If the injuries occurred due to negligence from the prison, you might be entitled to compensation. Examples include:

• Lack of training in how to safely break up fights
• Lack of protective gear, such as helmets or shields
• Poor communication or coordination among prison staff
• Defective equipment or malfunctioning alarms

These and other situations may result in a range of injuries while working in a prison. If your employer has failed to protect your health and safety, you might be able to make a prison officer compensation claim.

Common injuries sustained by prison officers and staff

Assaults, slips, trips and other accidents that could happen in prison could lead to a range of minor to severe injuries. The most common types seen in a prison officer injury claim include:

• Sprains and strains are common injuries to muscles, ligaments and tendons that may be due to a slip and trip or manual handling;
• Cuts, bruises and lacerations may result from an assault or accident and could leave permanent scars;
• Back injuries can range from minor to severe spinal cord trauma with life-changing consequences;
• Concussions and other head injuries could result from accidents or assaults and may have both short-term and long-term effects;
• Stab wounds may result in prison officer assault compensation if inmates use improvised weapons, such as homemade knives or shivs, during assaults;
• Fractures and dislocations may require surgery and physical therapy and take several months to recover;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues are a common consequence of violent crimes and severe accidents.

Even a moderate injury can have a significant impact on your life and may leave you out of work for months. Severe injuries may permanently affect your ability to work or carry out daily activities. If someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing caused you harm, a solicitor could help you claim prison officer compensation.

HM Prison Service duty of care

Like every other employer, the HM Prison Service has a legal duty of care to provide prison officers with a safe working environment. This duty stems from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and many other regulations. Failure to comply with the legislation may result in a successful personal injury claim, including for prison officer assault compensation.

Some of the health and safety measures you are entitled to expect from your employer include:

• Carry out a full risk assessment of the workplace
• Provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as protection vests, PAVA spray and ratchet cuffs
• Provide appropriate levels of staff so they can break up fights or restrain prisoners
• Make sure prison officers have the proper training and education to perform their jobs safely
• Ensure the correct level of security for inmates with a history of violence
• Keep a safe place of work to prevent slips, trips, and other accidents
• Explain all the risks and precautions to staff
• Carry out risk assessment for manual handling tasks

If you suffered any injury due to substandard safety measures, you could be entitled to make a work accident compensation claim. An experienced solicitor can determine if you have a valid claim during a free consultation over the phone. Call 0800 470 0474 or arrange a callback using our online claim form.

Frequently asked questions

If you want to make a prison officer compensation claim, you may have some further questions about the process. We have clarified some common questions and concerns about personal injury claims below. If you want to discuss your case in more detail, do not hesitate to call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back for a free case assessment.

Can I lose my job if I make a prison officer compensation claim?

Making a legitimate prison officer injury claim cannot legally lead to losing your job. UK employment laws make it unlawful for employers to dismiss or otherwise discipline employees for claiming. If the Prison Service has failed to take all reasonable measures to protect your health and safety, you are entitled to claim compensation from them.

If your employer sacked or disciplined you in any way, you may be entitled to take further action in an employment tribunal under unfair and constructive dismissal laws. The tribunal will consider your circumstances and offer compensation or order your employer to reinstate you.

How much prison officer compensation could I receive for my injuries?

The compensation you could receive following a prison officer assault or accident will depend on your injuries and their impact on your life. Your final settlement will consider two types of damages included in your claim:

• General damages cover the physical injury and how it has affected you. This includes the pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of amenities and reduced quality of life. These are calculated according to recommendations from the Judicial College. You can find examples of awards for different injuries on our compensation calculator page.
• Special damages are awarded for all the financial losses related to your injuries. These could be lost wages, care and assistance, the cost of medical aids, or travel expenses. Special damages are calculated based on evidence like receipts, wage slips and invoices.

What is the time limit to start a prison injury compensation claim?

As a general rule, you have three years to claim prison officer compensation, starting from the date you sustained an injury. Alternatively, the time may begin from the date your injury was diagnosed. Exceptions to this rule include:

• If the claimant has suffered a severe injury and lacks the mental capacity to start a claim, the time limit is suspended until they recover. In the meantime, a suitable litigation friend could claim on their behalf.
• If your employer took all necessary measures to ensure your safety and you were still injured due to an assault, you may still be entitled to criminal injury compensation. The time limit to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is two years from the incident.

Can I benefit from a No Win No Fee service?

If you are entitled to make a personal injury claim, your injury solicitor will offer you a no win no fee claim* service. Under this arrangement, you will not have to pay them any upfront fees, and there will be no hidden charges. If your claim is successful, you pay them a fee of up to 25% of your compensation award. If your case fails, you do not have to pay them a penny.

Your solicitor will also ensure you will not have to pay the costs incurred during litigation if you lose. They will do this by taking After the Event (ATE) insurance to cover any expenses related to the claim, such as court fees, medical reports and the defendant’s solicitor.

To find out if you can claim prison officer compensation using no win no fee, arrange a free consultation with a legal adviser. You can do this by calling 0800 470 0474 or requesting a call back using the claim form below.

Last edited on 7th Aug 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.