Employment tribunal awards £44,000 to prison officer victimised after whistleblowing case

A prison officer has been awarded £43,875 in damages after she was victimised by colleagues for appearing as a witness in a high-profile whistleblowing case.

Emma Howie claimed fellow officers turned on her after she gave evidence at a disciplinary hearing at Full Sutton prison, near York.

She was later transferred to the high-security Wakefield prison, where in December 2004 she again gave evidence, this time on behalf of senior prison officer Carol Lingard.

Lingard, who reported claims prisoners were being bullied at the high-security jail, later won her claim of unfair dismissal against the Prison Service and was awarded £500,000.

An employment tribunal also ordered the Prison Service to pay Howie's legal costs.