Record payout for prison whistleblower
A former prison officer who reported bullying and intimidation of inmates has received £477,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal.
Carol Lingard, 36, said she was discriminated against and intimidated following her allegations, and resigned because she felt unsafe and working conditions had become hostile.
While upholding Ms Lingard’s claims, Leeds employment tribunal was highly critical of prison service management and attacked an investigation carried out by the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) for not dealing with the allegations properly.
Speaking after the ruling, Ms Lingard said: “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.”
Phil Wheatley, the director general of the Prison Service, issued Ms Lingard with an apology earlier this year for her experiences at Wakefield high security prison.
