Police have claimed £85million in compensation

Posted: March 16, 2014

Posted in: Finger Injuries Hip Injuries Pothole Injuries Workplace Injuries Workplace Slip 

Following a Freedom of Information request made by The Sun newspaper, figures have revealed that police officers have claimed £85million in compensation for injuries at work. Accidents ranged from falling in potholes to insect bites, with one individual alone receiving £130,000 for falling and breaking his hip in a store room while on duty. The figure is a total of all personal injury claims made between 2008 and 2013.

Critics have highlighted that some claims should not have been accepted, with Jonathan Isaby from The Taxpayer’s Alliance saying: “In some cases the reasons behind claims are frankly ridiculous and should be rejected.” This unbelievably high figure has raised great concern, seeing as the police budget has endured numerous cuts recently. It was believed by the Home Office that Police funding would have dropped by 20% by 2015 and around 10,500 officers would lose their jobs. It was reported earlier this year that the number of Police officers in England and Wales is currently the lowest in over a decade.

• One payout saw an officer receiving £3,300 after getting his finger caught in a vacuum cleaner
• Another officer was awarded £2,000 after falling off a chair
• Another officer was awarded £4,400 for having to wear an ill-fitting protective vest
• Another officer was awarded £12,019 for post-traumatic stress disorder after he was accidentally shot by a colleague

Between 2008 and 2013 a total of 12,700 staff and officers made claims for injuring themselves at work.

If you have sustained an injury at work, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.

« Four-year fight for compensation sees success
Alcohol license dropped after teen injury »