Compensation claims: “Cops have the same rights”

POLICE officers who suffer an injury at work have the same rights to claim compensation as any member of the public, the Police Federation of England and Wales has said.

A spokesman said the role of a police officer is a “challenging one which carries significant risk of injury”.

It follows an article claiming 8,000 police officers have successfully claimed compensation worth nearly £70m in the past four years.

The issue hit the headlines after a Norfolk Constabulary officer’s injury claim. According to reports, PC Kelly Jones is suing Nuns’ Bridges garage in Thetford, where she was called out to investigate a suspected night-time break-in last August.

PC Jones says she injured her left leg and right wrist after tripping on a kerb and had to go to hospital.

The claim alleges the petrol station was at fault for failing to ensure she was “reasonably safe”, making no attempt to light the area or warn her about the step.

Norfolk Chief Constable Phil Gormley said he did not support his officer’s claim and Norfolk’s police and crime commissioner Stephen Bett urged her to withdraw it. PC Jones is, nevertheless, continuing with the lawsuit.

A spokesman for the Police Federation of England and Wales said: “While we accept this risk is part of the job, it is only right that officers should have the same protection as any other employee or member of the public who may suffer injury. PFEW has a duty to represent injured officers in any way it can, which includes providing details of a service that allows members access to legal advice on personal injury claims.”

He added: “Many officers find themselves unable to work through injury and will often pay for their own medical treatment so they can get back into service as quickly as possible. Like any other employee, they should have the opportunity to recoup any loss of earnings, and the current system represents the only way of doing so.”