Universal Credit shake up plans could see violent criminals lose right to benefits

Violent criminals will lose the right of access to benefits support through the Department for Work and Pensions, Labour is vowing. The new policy announcement follows some backlash as a killer in Nottingham, Valdo Calocane, was found to be among 80 killers staying in a secure hospital and claiming state support like Universal Credit.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by The Telegraph found that the violent criminals in Ashworth secure hospital in Merseyside were receiving thousands of pounds in Universal Credit as well as Employment and Support Allowance.

The hospital claimed this is “standard practice” for killers who have not been handed prison sentences to receive DWP benefits as they are treated as patients suffering from a mental disorder. Criminals serving time in prison rather than a secure hospital are not able to claim DWP benefit support.

Calocane was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court in January for the fatal stabbings of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Juma as well as 65-year-old Ian Coates in the early hours of June 13 last year

He was sentenced to detention in a high-security hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Calocane was given an indefinite hospital order in lieu of prison time as he was judged to be in the “grips of a severe psychotic episode” when he killed the three individuals.

A Labour spokesperson told The Telegraph that they would “urgently look at this case” if they come into power after Thursday’s vote. Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, is reportedly "very concerned" about the case and has ordered a review into Calocane's case while the mother of one of the victims, Emma Webber, has slammed the “broken” criminal just system.