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There are those that would assume and possibly argue that the threat of injury to police officers is all part and parcel of the job. This partly true as in carrying out their duties officers can be placed in risky situations on a daily basis. However this is only true to a certain extent as Police authorities are subject to the same duty of care to their employees as any other employers and if they do not fulfil that duty of care which results in an injury then they will be liable for a personal injury compensation claim just as any other employer may be. Under a recent Freedom of Information request Bedfordshire Police revealed that they have paid out over £45,000 to officers in accident claims. These compensation claims were not for injuries chasing muggers or confronting armed robbers as many would expect but from faulty chairs and broken handrails in police premises. While risking your body and health confronting criminals may be part and parcel of the job to a certain extent, police officers should expect that once in their place of work they should not be confronted by additional risks placed in front of them by negligence from their employers. One officer received £10,000 after the back of the chair she was sitting on snapped which caused her to fall off and receive a head injury. Another officer fell down some stairs after a loose handrail came off the wall and was duly awarded £7,300 in compensation. The extent of the injuries suffered in both cases was not revealed. Hopefully these cases will be a reminder to those that think that injuries are just part of the job for officers that Health and Safety laws apply to the police as well and that their employers have just as much duty to provide as a safe as working environment as possible as any other employer. http://www.paulrooney.co.uk/?l=6
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