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23
May
More than 1,000 North Yorkshire Police officers injured on duty since 2022
More than 1,000 North Yorkshire Police officers have been injured while on duty since 2022.
A total of 1,026 officers were injured between 2022-2024, according to figures obtained through a freedom of information request.
During that time, a total of £257,710 has been paid out in compensation.
A freedom of information request by Accident at Work Claim UK, a workplace injury solicitors firm, found that physical assaults are the leading cause of injuries sustained by officers in the region.
Assaults accounted for 40% of injuries at 412, 183 higher than the second leading cause: injury while restraining.
Other injury causes included road traffic accidents, slips, trips and falling, during training and being hit by a moving vehicle.
North Yorkshire Police injury cases between 2022-2024. Photo: Accident At Work Claim UK.
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), which represents police officers, said forces are being “pushed to breaking point and enough is enough".
A total of 384 officers were injured in 2024 — around a 25% increase from 2023 when 308 injuries were recorded.
Earlier this month (Tuesday, May 6) the PFEW launched the ‘Copped Enough Campaign’ which fights for police officers’ right to fair pay, safe conditions, and respect.
A spokesperson for the PFEW said:
Thirty-two officers are violently assaulted every day - and the numbers are rising.
The police officers who protect communities are being pushed to breaking point. Real-terms pay cuts of up to 21%, rising assaults, daily trauma and risk, they run towards danger - but their pay doesn’t cover running a household. Enough is enough.
Police data also revealed that while the number of compensation claims filed by injured officers increased in the last three years, with eight claims submitted in 2024 - up from three in 2022 - actual payouts have decreased.
In 2022, two claims were settled resulting in a total of £204,190 being paid out in compensation. A further three claims were settled in 2023 with damages totalling £20,569 and five were settled in 2024 with a compensation amounting to £32,951.
The FOI request, submitted by Accident at Work Claim UK, comes after a spate of recent assaults on police and prison officers.
On April 5, Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi reportedly threw hot cooking oil over prison officers and used “home-made weapons” to stab them.
On May 8, convicted Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana is reported to have thrown boiling water on an officer.
Solicitor Bev Faulkner said:
If you have been injured whilst working, it is possible to bring a claim against the police force, your employer, for compensation if their negligence resulted in the accident and your injuries.
The police force cannot sack you, discipline you for bringing a claim against them, prevent you from being promoted or demote you.
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