HC Deb 14 December 1981 vol 15 cc11-2W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much has been paid out by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years as ex-gratia payments arising out of claims for compensation made by members of the public against the Metropolitan Police for damage to property and also for injury to the person;

(2) how much has been paid out by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years for damages in cases settled out of court where a member of the public has sued for compensation for damage to property and also for injury to the person;

(3) how much has been paid out by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years for damages ordered to be paid by a court in a civil action for compensation against the force.

Mr. Mayhew

Most claims for compensation under section 48 of the Police Act 1964 for a wrongful act are settled by negotiation without recourse to litigation. Information before the financial year 1974–75 is not readily available, and records do not distinguish payments, ordered by a court, from settlements. The sums paid out of the Metropolitan Police fund for the financial years 1974–75 to 1980–81 in respect of claims or civil actions, for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault or trespass to the person, injury and damage arising from road traffic accidents, damage to or loss of property, and employers liability matters are shown in the following table; figures in brackets denote claims for injury and damage arising from road traffic accidents.

Financial year Total payments from Metropolitan Police fund
£ £
1974–75 159,427 (118,492)
1975–76 140,362 (99,885)
Financial year Total payments from Metropolitan Police fund
£ £
1976–77 295,229 (136,312)
1977–78 262,414 (125,208)
1978–79 296,907 (202,275)
1979–80 387,377 (282,135)
1980–81 495,562 (315,534)

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum of money has been included in the estimates for the current financial year for the Metropolitan Police for damages, compensation and exgratia payments for claims made by members of the public for damage to property and also for injury to the person.

Mr. Mayhew

Estimates for the financial year 1981–82 include the sum of £540,000 for payment of claims which may arise under section 48 of the Police Act 1964. That sum includes £398,000 for possible claims in respect of injury or damage arising from road traffic accidents.