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The figures come as prison population levels, as well as prisoner-on-staff assault rates, continue to rise.
Over the past three years, claim costs against HMP Bullingdon totalled £579,488.29, with the highest amount in 2021/22 at £561,306.77.
The figures from the HM Prison and Probation Service, obtained by Accident Claims, also reveal that in 2023/24 claim costs totalled £18,191.29.
Claims can remain open for lengthy periods, and therefore accumulate costs over a number of years.
Personal injury claims lodged by prison staff are often submitted for accidents such as slips and trips, muscle strains, or assaults by inmates while performing their duties.
The prison population has increased annually for the last thirty years, rising from 43,000 in 1994 to over 88,000 in 2024.
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The Ministry of Justice says the Government is investing in prison maintenance and security.
A former prison officer from the Banbury area, who worked at HMP Bullingdon between 2018 and 2022, told us they were assaulted on a number of occasions – one being an “unprovoked punch in the face” early on in their time working there.
“I did witness first hand other officers get seriously assaulted in similar fashion to myself and in worse cases, with weapons,” they said.
“I was incredibly anxious after I was assaulted.
“It was quite the reality check on the hostile environment I was working in and it teaches you that you need to be ready at all times, just in case something were to happen.”
They said that while support within the prison system is available from other designated officers, they did not feel comfortable in taking it up due to “a culture that officers cannot show any vulnerability, not even between colleagues”.
They added: “There were definitely times where I feared injury.
“Staff assaults have, and will likely always be, a regular occurrence within the prison system.
“You’re working with individuals that are convicted of violent crimes, individuals that are mentally unstable and not receiving the help they need and individuals that have got into “debt” with other prisoners for one reason or another.
“There have been occasions where to pay off that debt they are required to assault or “pot” – to throw a jug, bucket or container of urine and faeces – an officer.
“During my time I witnessed injury occur to officers as a result of all three of these examples and for many other reasons.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: “Our jails are overcrowded, have been neglected for too long, and our hardworking staff are over-stretched.
“By addressing this crisis, we can begin the work of improving prison conditions to reduce the need for compensation claims and ensure taxpayer money is spent more effectively.
“Prisoners who are violent towards staff or other prisoners will face the full consequences of their actions.”
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To protect staff from serious assaults, PAVA – a synthetic pepper spray – is available for use by prison officers in the adult male estate, and over 13,000 next generation Body Worn Video Cameras are available across public sector prisons.
In 2018 HMPPS implemented a strategy to ensure that where damages are awarded to prisoners, payments are offset against outstanding debts owed to victims and the courts before payments are made to claimants.
Since 2020, over £750,000 from around 990 prisoners has been redirected, with nearly 50 per cent of this money going to victims.
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