Compensation

Most people think that when a person has gone to prison when they shouldn’t have, that they will receive compensation when their conviction is finally overturned.

However a most brutal law introduced in 2014 has meant the vast majority don’t get a penny.

It is no longer enough for the wrongfully convicted person to have proved that they are not guilty. To receive compensation, they must show that the new or newly discovered fact that led to the conviction being quashed shows “beyond reasonable doubt” that the person did not commit the offence (Criminal Justice Act 2014 Section 133 (1ZA)).

This essentially means they must prove their innocence – therefore reversing the age old principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. From 2016 to 2024, of the 591 applications for compensation by miscarriage of justice victims, only 39 were granted – less than 7%.

Innocent people who have spent many years in prison have been left destitute. That’s exactly what happened to Sam Hallam, who is supported by APPEAL. Despite his conviction being overturned in 2012, Sam has been denied any form of compensation.

APPEAL is calling for this abhorrent rule to be scrapped #PayUp4TimeSpent
– Add your name to the call here

Supporters:

Prime Minister’s Questions: David Davis MP raised the issue that 93 per cent of victims of miscarriages of justice are refused compensation for their wrongful conviction.

Prime Minister’s Questions: Ben Lake MP stood up for his constituent Brian Buckle, a victim of wrongful conviction, and called on the government to provide proper compensation.

Barcode:

The core image of our call to scrap the test for compensation, Barcode , was created by Patrick Maguire, the youngest member of the Maguire Seven and a victim of miscarriage of justice himself – wrongfully convicted at just 13 years old. The artwork was created in support of Sam Hallam, another victim of wrongful conviction who continues to fight for compensation. The numbers in the painting represent key dates and figures from Sam’s time spent unjustly in prison.

In the Media:

The Mirror – January 2024

Radio 4 – June 2024, APPEAL’s Co-Director, Matt Foot discussing the inhumane rule on Radio 4 following Sam Hallam’s case before the European Court of Human Rights

The Justice Gap – June 2025

The Big Issue – August 2025

LCCSA – Autumn 2025, The London Advocate