The number of people claiming compensation against the police is increasing, and police forces across the country have had to pay out thousands for claims made against them.
Dorset Police has paid out nearly £80k in damages in the last five years following claims put in against the force.
Figures obtained by Public Interest Lawyers found that 167 claims have been lodged against Dorset 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.
Some claims against the police can be made for exceptional circumstances; for example, forces across the UK paid out more than £300,000 in compensation in the last three years after officers raided the homes of innocent people, according to The Express.
This amount resulted from at least 255 separate cases of police forces battering down the wrong doors.
In 2019/2020, 24 claims were lodged against Dorset Police, 2 of which were settled, the lowest number of claims over the past five years.
A year later, this number increased to 32 claims, with 3 of these settled.
The service has experienced a drop in claims over the past year, compared to 2022/23, with a total of 37.
Another reason for a claim against the police is sexual misconduct. Worryingly, this has become the main source of complaints to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) – the UK police watchdog.
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, 1300 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.
Public Interest Lawyers also obtained figures on how much Dorset Police has paid out to successful claims since 2019.
Over the past five years, the force has paid out a total of £78,864, with the highest amount coming in 2023/24, standing at £27,250.
Compensation claims made against UK police forces since 2019 can include both public claims and employer liability claims brought internally by police officers and staff.
The most common reason for claims is property damage, with motor-based claims such as car crashes also ranking high.
More alarmingly, claims for unlawful arrests, wrongful imprisonments and forced entries into properties have been submitted more and more against police forces over the years.
Based on figures gathered from Dorset Police, the top five claim reasons against the force have been revealed.
Unlawful arrests were logged the most, submitted 73 times, with unlawful detentions and negligence, seeing over 30 claims were submitted.
Speaking to Public Interest Lawyers, 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.”
Public Interest Lawyers offers support to people who believe the police have mistreated them and free advice on whether they can claim compensation.
They operate a 24-hour helpline and claim online form, which you can access on their website.
