The government is set to close a controversial loophole that allows convicted killers detained in hospitals under court order to claim state benefits. The move follows public and political outrage after it emerged that Nottingham attacker Valdo Calocane was eligible for welfare payments while held in a high-security hospital.
Public Outrage Spurs Policy Overhaul
Fury erupted when it was revealed that Valdo Calocane, the paranoid schizophrenic who fatally stabbed students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, in 2023, could receive around £360 per month in benefits. Calocane was sentenced to indefinite detention in a high-security hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
This case highlighted a stark disparity in the system. While prisoners are already barred from claiming benefits, individuals given a hospital order by a court for serious crimes have remained eligible. These offenders, who receive bed, meals, and treatment at state expense, could theoretically receive over £800 each month in Universal Credit if they are over 25 and qualify for certain additional elements.
Families and Politicians Demand "Common Sense"
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the situation, stating: “It cannot be right that offenders convicted of the most serious crimes continue to receive benefits they don’t need at the expense of the taxpayer.” The government has now launched a consultation to gather expert views on stripping Universal Credit from those convicted of grave offences like manslaughter and rape who are held in hospital.
The move has been strongly welcomed by the families of victims. Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Dr Sinead O’Malley, parents of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, said the decision represented “decisive and bold departmental leadership.” They added that while they had lost their daughter, “in her name good is being done for our country.”
Similarly, the family of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, 25, who was killed by her boyfriend Gogoa Lois Tape, 28, praised “this long-overdue reform.” Her mother and uncle, Linda and Leon Westcarr, said it removed “the added pain of knowing such injustices could continue.”
Implementing Fairness and Protecting Taxpayers
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has emphasised that the change aims to draw a clear moral and practical line. The benefits system will continue to support ordinary patients receiving long-term hospital treatment, who will not lose their entitlements. However, it will no longer extend that support to those detained under a court order for heinous acts.
DWP Secretary Pat McFadden argued the current rules were unfair to both victims' families and taxpayers. “We don't reward acts of violence,” he said, pledging to ensure support goes “to people who genuinely need it.” The charity Hundred Families, which supports relatives affected by mental health-related killings, estimates roughly 120 people a year in the UK are killed by someone who is mentally ill.
Julian Hendy from the charity stated: “We have long argued that paying welfare benefits to people who have committed serious violent crimes is wrong and cannot be justified. They’re offenders sentenced to hospital orders who have no costs or need for such payments.” The DWP is currently consulting on which specific offences will be covered by the new ban, with the final policy expected to be implemented following the feedback period.
