Prisoners suing over slopping out offered £2,000 deal

A GROUP of 300 inmates suing the Scottish Prison Service over "doubled-up" slopping out are to be offered about £2,000 each.

The practice is forced on prisoners who share a small cell and must use a chamberpot or other facilities in close proximity to each other.

The cash offer emerged yesterday after the SPS's annual accounts disclosed it had set aside a 58 million liability fund to settle possible claims.

The SPS said decisions by the European Court of Human Rights made clear that slopping out in "doubled-up" conditions was a breach of prisoners' rights.

The SPS figures also revealed the amount set aside for liabilities resulting from the Robert Napier case had increased from last year's total of 49 million.

Napier, an armed robber, won 2,450 in 2004 after claiming he suffered an outbreak of eczema while slopping out at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow. His case prompted a flood of claims from about 1,400 serving and former prisoners who said their human rights had been breached by slopping out.

Other cases involving inmates who do not share cells could cost a further 27 million, compared with last year's estimate of 24 million. These cases, numbering about 1,100, are still before the courts.

Margaret Mitchell, justice spokeswoman for the Scottish Tories, said: "It is utterly ridiculous that prisoners can come out richer than when they went in."

Slopping out is now confined to 350 prisoners at two jails - Polmont young offenders' institution, where it will end next year, and Peterhead, where prisoners have to use chemical toilets.