A windfall for the victims of slopping out?

IN LAW, a person who has been wronged or aggrieved can seek damages.

However, one class of criminals looks likely to find itself with the financial ability to pay compensation to its victims. As a result of bungling by the Executive, prisoners and former prisoners in Scottish jails are in a position to sue for compensation because it has been deemed that using chamber pots and slopping them out is an abuse of human rights. The Prison Service is putting aside 44 million to deal with the issue.

It would be iniquitous if the convicted criminals pocketed 44 million but their victims were not compensated for the crimes against them. Surely it is possible for the Executive to ensure that the money is held in some blocked account until victims are in a position to sue to get their hands on this criminal windfall. That way, justice will be served all round. And it might help make up for the Executive's earlier incompetence.