Criminals in hospital set to lose benefits under new rules

Webber told the BBC: “It’s not an insignificant amount of money but it is not just the money.

“It’s the sort of morality of these criminal patients, who have devastated lives as well as taken lives, not only having their full bed and board and all of their care and rehabilitation provided for them, but also amassing a small fortune whilst they’re inside, while the rest of us on the outside are desperately trying to survive and find a way forward in our lives.”

Webber said she believed the funds should be “directed to the victims” of serious crime.

“I think those monies they need to be directed to victims.

“It needs to go, not just to mental health crimes, but to all crimes, and particularly the most serious, so that the families and the children of those that are sometimes left behind as well, are given the support and the advocacy that they need.

“You’re thrown, literally thrown into the criminal justice system when this happens and you have to find your own way.”

Webber added when her son was killed, her family was allocated a support worker who had 50 other families to look after.

Webber said: “I beg and I plead, and actually, I demand ministers to now consider the appropriate reuse of those funds.”

Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace’s father, said: “Our campaign has always been about accountability and fairness.

“Offenders with treatment orders already cost the taxpayer an enormous amount.

“On release, every offender gets help with housing and benefits.

“On the principle of fairness alone, we do not see why taxpayers should fund benefits while they are incarcerated.”