PSNI pays £10m in compensation
According to survey results obtained under freedom of information by the Belfast Telegraph, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has the highest compensation payout total of any UK police force.
According to survey results obtained under freedom of information by the Belfast Telegraph, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has the highest compensation payout total of any UK police force.
According to the report, published on December 4, PSNIs £10 million payout was greater than a number of other forces, including the Met, which paid out £8.4 million. Between 2002 and 2007 a total of 2,585 claims were brought or threatened against PSNI, though the number of actual court actions initiated actually came to 731 the paper reported.
Claims brought to trial in the five years totalled 170, of which 46 resulted in damages being awarded, it stated. A PSNI spokeswoman said: The nature of policing in Northern Ireland is unique. It is only this year that all parties have endorsed and declared their political support for policing here.
“Over the years the PSNI had to face a high number of incidents of public disorder and we are also still dealing with cases relating to The Troubles.
It should be noted that there has been a downward trend in the numbers of claims from members of the public for wrongful arrest and assault. This may be due to fewer incidents of public disorder and improved relations between the police and communities.
The highest number of claims were employers liability complaints from police officers and other employees.