Instances of damages or compensation paid in January 2020 to September 2022
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.026696
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. Please provide the total number of instances of damages or compensation paid by your force, in each year: 2020, 2021 and 2022 up to September (inclusive).
2. Please categorise this data by the type of claim or damage for which it was paid/settled, and provide a description of each category - any way in which it is officially recorded (and where that record comes from).
3. Please provide the total money paid for each type of claim, and the overall total for each year.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Please provide the total number of instances of damages or compensation paid by your force, in each year: 2020, 2021 and 2022 up to September (inclusive).
The number of Settlement payments made for each case type registered on the Directorate of Legal Services case management system are as follows:
| 2020 (1 January – 31 December) | |
| MAL | 118 |
| EMP | 29 |
| PL | 344 |
| EL | 46 |
| TRF | 492 |
| 2021 (1 January – 31 December) | |
| MAL | 159 |
| EMP | 20 |
| PL | 396 |
| EL | 38 |
| TRF | 544 |
| 2022 (1 January – 30 September) | |
| MAL | 140 |
| EMP | 16 |
| PL | 264 |
| EL | 22 |
| TRF | 323 |
Q2 - Please categorise this data by the type of claim or damage for which it was paid/settled, and provide a description of each category - any way in which it is officially recorded (and where that record comes from).
The answer to Question 1 lists the number of Settlement payments (payments made by settlement or court award) in each of the relevant case categories recorded on the Directorate of Legal Services case management system.
The categories are as follows:
MAL – Malfeasance
Threatened or issued civil actions – claims from members of the public which may involve include allegations of excessive force; false evidence; misapplication of the law; misunderstanding of the law; deliberate wrongdoing or failure to act; deliberate or accidental neglect; breach of European Convention rights
EMP – Employment
Employment Tribunal claims brought by police officers or staff and can include allegations of unfair dismissal, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religious or age discrimination and claims under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998;
Employment Actions (threatened or issued civil actions – claims from current or ex police officers and staff for discrimination or unfair dismissal and covers a broad range of claims often based on negligence, which can range from unsafe working practices or buildings to stressful environments.
PL – Public Liability
Threatened and issued actions brought by members of the public – eg, damage to property.
EL – Employers Liability
Threatened and issued actions brought by police officers or staff – eg, injury at work
TRF – Traffic
Threatened and issued actions brought by members of the public – eg, damage to car by police.
Q3 - Please provide the total money paid for each type of claim, and the overall total for each year.
| 2020 (January – December) | |
| MAL | £1,107,317.90 |
| EMP | £453,763.29 |
| PL | £384,553.91 |
| EL | £593,553.17 |
| TRF | £3,088,444.29 |
| 2021 (January – December) | |
| MAL | £4,184,585.29 |
| EMP | £453,085.50 |
| PL | £472,115.90 |
| EL | £742,244.24 |
| TRF | £3,353,240.71 |
| 2022 January – September) | |
| MAL | £2,281,119.61 |
| EMP | £238,693.45 |
| PL | £335,803.17 |
| EL | £903,672.15 |
| TRF | £1,461,294.54 |