Thank you for your interest in this story.
To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
15
Apr
More than 1,000 police officers injured on duty over last three years
More than 1,000 police officers have been injured on duty across the county in the last three years, figures show.
The news comes after North Yorkshire Police published a response to a Freedom of Information request, which sought details on the number of officers injured whilst on duty from January 1, 2022, until December 31, 2024.
It also requested the causes and the severity of the injuries, the number of compensation claims made by officers and how many of those claims were settled or refused.
The police also disclosed the total amount awarded in compensation during that period.
The number of officers injured on duty in 2022 was 334. This dropped to 308 the following year but shot back up to 384 in 2024.
That is a total of 1,026 in the space of three years.
The total number of officers injured on duty.
Causes and severity
North Yorkshire Police published a detailed list of the causes of injuries to its officers.
The list includes the number of officers injured by burns, electric shocks, animals, needles and more.
The force’s response also details the number of incidents that resulted in ‘major’ injury.
Over the last three years, 18 officers were injured after being exposed to harmful substances. The police did not specify what kind of substances these were.
Eighteen were hit by moving vehicles – one of whom sustained a major injury – and 19 officers were injured after being hit by a moving, flying or falling object.
One officer was severely injured as a result.
A total of 229 officers were injured whilst restraining a person over the last three years – two of them sustaining major injuries – while 412 were physically assaulted by another person.
Three officers suffered major injuries from being assaulted.
You can find a breakdown of all the causes, as well as the number of officers who sustained major injuries, below.
Causes of injuries and number of officers who sustained major injuries.
Compensation
Despite the number of officers injured on duty reaching more than 1,000, only 10 compensatory claims were made during the three-year period.
According to North Yorkshire Police’s response, four claims were made in 2022.
This reduced to three in both 2023 and 2024.
The force also published the number of claims that were settled and refused during the same period (below), but the force said the figures could relate to different claims than those made in the three-year period.
In 2022, two claims were settled but one was refused.
The following year, three claims were settled and three were refused.
The number of claims settled increased to five in 2024, whilst a further three were refused.
North Yorkshire Police awarded a total of £257,710 in compensation between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024 – £204,190 of which was paid out in 2022.
The amounts paid could relate to different claims than those made during that period, the force said.
You can find a breakdown of the total amount awarded in damages, which excludes claimant solicitors’ fees and any defence costs, to officers who sustained injuries on duty below.
Total amount awarded in compensation.
Assaults on emergency workers
Every week, the Stray Ferret sits through a full day – or two – of hearings at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
One offence we find ourselves regularly reporting on is assaults on emergency workers. A week seldom goes by without someone appearing in court charged with assaulting an emergency worker – namely, police officers or medics.
The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police about this last month.
We asked to interview someone about what appeared to be an increasing number of assaults against police officers, but the force said at the time the number has actually declined.
Detective chief inspector, Jon Sygrove, the force's lead for preventing and responding to assaults and hate crime against police officers and staff, said:
Our officers and staff work tirelessly to protect the public, often putting themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of our communities. It is completely unacceptable for anyone to face violence, abuse or hate crime while at work. Despite the daily challenges of navigating difficult and often dangerous situations, they remain unwavering in their commitment to serve with professionalism and integrity.
While assaults on officers have declined between 1 November 2024 and 16 January 2025, any assault is one too many. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy and will pursue the fullest legal action against those responsible. Violence against our officers and staff is never acceptable, and we are dedicated to creating a future where no officer or staff member faces violence or abuse while performing their duties.
The Stray Ferret yesterday asked North Yorkshire Police how the figures compare to the national average and what steps it takes to ensure its officers are safe and protected.
Look out for the force's response, which will be published separately.
0