Personal injury compensation claims cost Cambridgeshire police

Posted 29/08/2009

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has paid out more than £21,000 to employees who have suffered a personal injury at work since 2006.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that 18 police officers and two members of civilian staff made compensation claims during the period, reports the Cambridge News.

The injuries ranged from cuts to broken bones and were sustained in a wide variety of ways, including from a dog bite, slipping down stairs and exposure to a toxic substance.

Mike Beales, Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s insurance services manager, told the newspaper all compensation claims were thoroughly investigated to establish liability before a decision about payment was made.

He added: “We also look at the medical evidence to look at quantifying the damages. Sometimes the injury may restrict the officer’s ability to take on overtime.”

Anyone who suffers a personal injury at work may be eligible to claim compensation from his or her employer. In recent months a sports centre worker received £50,000 after injuring his back and an engineer was given £27,000 after damaging his arm.