Nottinghamshire Police pays out over £1.8m to claims made against the force since 2019

A police force has paid out over £1.8 million in claims made against them since 2019, as the number of people claiming compensation has increased.

Figures obtained by Public Interest Lawyers found that 1,299 claims have been lodged against Nottinghamshire Police since 2019.

Claims are often put in against a police force if someone feels they have been mistreated or if they feel the police abused their position.

Examples of claims against the police include malicious prosecution, wrongful arrest, sexual misconduct, assault, traffic accidents, and property damage.

In 2019/2020, 217 claims were lodged against Nottinghamshire Police, 107 of which were settled, the lowest number of claims over the past five years.

A year later, this number increased to 230 claims, with 89 of these settled.

The service has experienced another rise in claims over the past year, with a total of 346 in 2023/24.

According to Public Interest Lawyers, Nottinghamshire Police has paid out a total of £1,821,656.62 in successful claims since 2019, with the highest amount coming in 2021/22, standing at £455,190.58.

Based on figures gathered from Nottinghamshire Police, the top claim reasons against the force is road traffic collisions, with 466, while damaged/lost property saw 284 claims submitted.

Deputy chief constable Steve Cooper said: “Policing can be a fast moving and challenging situation. Where property is damaged by us during an operation, we will always seek to remedy as soon as possible.

“This may include paying compensation.

“The vast majority of our claims are when vehicles or other property has been damaged during an operational incident. While these costs can appear high, the bulk of this cost are legal fees.”

In a May 2022 report, the IOPC said it was ‘highly likely’ the scale of sexual misconduct within law enforcement ‘remains under-represented’, as not all victims report misconduct, with some fearing they won’t be believed.

Signs of inappropriate sexual behaviour by a police officer, such as private contact, nurturing dependence or being overly familiar, have all been grounds for victims to pursue a claim in the past.

In the year ending March 2023, 1,300 police officers and staff across the 43 UK police forces were referred to formal misconduct proceedings as a result of cases such as police complaints, conduct matters and recordable conduct matters.

Also, during this time, a total of 51,605 police complaints involving 42,854 identifiable police officers were finalised; these complaints involved 120,243 allegations.

The most common reason for claims is property damage, with motor-based claims such as car crashes also ranking high.

Claims for unlawful arrests, wrongful imprisonments, and forced entries into properties have been submitted more and more against police forces over the years.

JF Law solicitor Lucy Parker said: "The number of claims made against police forces in the UK shines a light on a crucial issue and highlights the importance of holding institutions accountable.

“Potential reasons to claim may include wrongful arrest, assault, malicious prosecution, or negligence however, it's crucial to remember that each case is unique.

“Reasons such as property damage and forced entry by police, without lawful justification, are serious matters and can constitute a significant breach of an individual's rights.

“If you believe the police have wronged you, it's essential to seek legal advice promptly to understand your options and potential outcomes."