Taxpayers have been left “stunned” after it was revealed that costs for funerals of violent criminals have exploded by 130 per cent, according to official figures.
The amount taxpayers are paying towards funerals spent on high-security criminals who have died in custody has more than doubled in the last four years.
Ministry of Justice figures reveal that six high-security prisons in England spent £53,613 in the last year, up from £23,315 in 2022/2023.
William Yarwood, campaigns director at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, told GB News: “Taxpayers will be stunned that they are being forced to cover funeral costs for some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals.
“There is no justification for offenders receiving generous support while many law-abiding families struggle to pay for their own loved ones’ funerals.
“Ministers should introduce proper means-testing so taxpayers are not left footing these growing bills.”
Nineteen prisoners died whilst in custody at high-security jails last year, up from 11 in 2022.
The issue received national attention earlier this year when Soham killer Ian Huntley was murdered.
Costs for violent criminals’ funerals have exploded by 130 per cent, which have been paid for by the taxpayer
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PA
Prison service guidance requires governors to pay up to £3,000 as a “contribution” towards “reasonable funeral expenses” of criminals who die within jails.
They must do this unless the offender has a prepaid funeral plan or is eligible for a grant.
Huntley was jailed for life after the murders of 10-year-old girls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Huntley’s own daughter urged the state not to pay for his funeral.
He was subsequently cremated, with his ashes scattered at an unknown location.
Ian Huntley’s ashes will be spread in a secret location after his taxpayer funded funeral
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PAThe full costs of all funerals across all of the MoJ’s 120 were not released as part of the Freedom of Information request by the Telegraph; however, they have stated the cost to the taxpayer is likely to be hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, said: “Every person deserves a dignified funeral and where families cannot afford one, it’s reasonable that the state provides.
“But is it really right that we provide prisoners with a benefit that isn’t means-tested, when for anyone else it would be?
“We shouldn’t be more generous to those who have committed crimes than we are to law-abiding citizens.”
The MoJ data showed that the six high-security jails had spent more than £170,000 since 2022 paying for the funerals of 69 criminals.
The two highest spending prisons were HMP Full Sutton, where £52,652 was spent, followed by HMP Frankland with £48,613.
The MoJ said the funds were used to cover basic funeral costs, such as simple coffins and funeral directors’ fees.
Governors aimed to spend “as little as possible” of the £3,000.
A spokesman for the MoJ said: “Not all deaths would have had funerals paid for by the Prison Service and any cover for basic expenses is paid directly to the funeral director – as is standard practice.”