THAT AMOUNT SHOULD MAKE THE BASTARDS THINK:

Pity it comes out of the taxpayer's pocket, though. (Follow-up to my post of June 27th.)

A whistleblower who alleged abuse of inmates at Wakefield prison has been awarded compensation of 477,600 pounds [around a million dollars] after winning a claim for unfair dismissal. The amount awarded to former prison officer Carol Lingard is thought to be the highest for a public sector claim. Mrs Lingard was treated as a "grass" after reporting claims prisoners were being bullied at the high-security jail, an employment tribunal heard.

Prison Service director general Phil Wheatley has since apologised to her. He acknowledged the organisation, the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) - established by new whistle-blowing legislation - and his deputy all failed to deal properly with her allegations.

Mrs Lingard's claims centred on one prison officer, who she claimed had warned a sex offender he could get slashed by other inmates if he was found with images of children. She alleged the officer then attempted to have the material planted in the prisoner's cell. Mrs Lingard alleged the officer had forged another prisoner's records to show poor behaviour and that he was involved in a suspicious assault allegation against the same inmate.

An initial investigation - later described as "poor" and "not professional" by the tribunal - found "no evidence" to support her allegations. Despite approaching John Slater, the prison governor, and the PSU - which briefly investigated her claims - her complaint went no further.

A Prison Service spokesman said on Wednesday: "The service acknowledges that it took an inordinately long time for the information which Mrs Lingard reported to be investigated and the investigations carried out were inadequate." It accepted the tribunal's recommendation there should be a comprehensive review of the PSU.

Mrs Lingard said: "I remain deeply disappointed that despite giving the prison service many opportunities to take responsibility for their actions during the last three years, I have had to fight a very long and hard case at tribunal for this to happen. "I am happy with the award and I am relieved that I can finally begin to put all of this behind me and look to the future."

Her solicitor John Sturzaker said Mrs Lingard was a "respected officer" who had highlighted "serious wrongdoings". "Her concerns and complaints were mishandled appallingly and she felt she had to resign her post," he said. "Mrs Lingard has now been completely vindicated by the tribunal."

Report here






Disabled people who aren't -- but being paid handsomely for it: "A disabled police officer stands guard over Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen at the Rose Garden. An injured firefighter scrambles up mountains and through woods on his TV show, "Northwest Hunter." Another disabled firefighter owns an upscale Portland restaurant, aided by city taxpayers who subsidized his training at the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York. All have one thing in common: Though clearly able to work, they continue to collect thousands of dollars in benefits each month from the Portland Fire and Police Disability and Retirement Fund. Disability programs in Oregon and most major U.S. cities serve as a temporary safety net for injured police or firefighters while they are unable to work, moving them off benefits and back to jobs as soon as possible. Not in Portland. An investigation by The Oregonian found the city's system is an open checkbook, with rules that allow injured police and firefighters to collect checks until they retire, even if they can earn a living in another job.... one in nine Portland police and firefighters is on disability, and they go out at four times the rate of their peers statewide."

Mealy-mouthed response: "Portlands elected officials said Tuesday they want to take immediate steps to fix problems in the city's police and firefighters disability system even as they plan for more sweeping changes in the $15-million-a-year program in an election next year. All agreed the city must act now to bring more injured police and firefighters back to work and make an expensive, inefficient system run better. Mayor Tom Potter, who also serves as chairman the Portland Fire and Police Disability and Retirement Funds board of trustees, said he is willing to bring Portland's disability system in line with those that care for injured police and firefighters elsewhere in Oregon and in other major U.S. cities. Potter said he was especially struck by findings in The Oregonians two-day series that showed Portland's disability system is more expensive than the workers compensation system that covers firefighters and police employed in other Oregon jurisdictions".


(And don't forget your ration of Wicked Thoughts for today)