Jail officer awarded £43k damages

The Prison Service must pay out damages to officer Emma Howie

A Wakefield prison officer who appeared as a witness in a whistleblowing case has been awarded £43,875 by an employment tribunal.

Emma Howie had given evidence on behalf of a colleague in which she supported claims of bullying at Wakefield, one of the UK's highest-security prisons.

The award included £22,500 to cover "injury to feelings" as well as £10,000 for "aggravated damages".

The tribunal also ordered the Prison Service to pay Ms Howie's legal costs.

John Sturzaker, solicitor for Ms Howie, said: "The tribunal's award is one of the highest possible for a claim of this kind, highlighting the extent of discrimination that Ms Howie suffered because of her decision to speak up about wrongdoing in the prison.

"The tribunal summarised its findings as "damning conclusions".

"The total level of the award and the highly unusual steps of ordering the Prison Service to pay aggravated damages and legal costs, reflect the tribunal's view of the comprehensive failure on the part of the Prison Service."

Ms Howie had previously given evidence in a disciplinary hearing held at Full Sutton prison near York, where she worked.

She claims fellow officers then turned on her and harassed her so much that she was later transferred to Wakefield prison, where in December 2004 she again gave evidence, this time on behalf of senior prison officer Carol Lingard.

Mrs Lingard, who reported claims prisoners were being bullied at the high-security jail, later won her claim of unfair dismissal against the Prison Service and was awarded £500,000.

This sum is believed to be the largest public sector payout for whistleblowing.