Police Compensation 2023-09-18
2023-09-18
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on compensation adequacy for injured police officers.
What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the adequacy of compensation for police officers injured in the course of their duties?
The police injury benefit scheme provides ongoing and one-off payments to former police officers who have been injured or disabled in the line of duty.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific adequacy of compensation not addressed, only general scheme mentioned.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern over the strict criteria for police injury compensation leading to many officers being ineligible, despite more than 40,000 assaults against police in the past year.
With more than 40,000 assaults against police in the past year, and many officers ineligible for injury compensation because of that rule, does the Home Secretary agree that these guidelines effectively normalise violence against police and must be changed?
We certainly do not want to see violence against police normalised. That is why we legislated to double the maximum sentence for assaults against emergency workers just a year or two ago. My understanding is that the payments under the police injury benefit scheme can go up to 85% of salary, but since the hon. Lady has raised the point, I will take a look at it.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to changing guidelines explicitly.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Calls for a posthumous medal to acknowledge police officers who have died in the line of duty.
Why will the Minister not do the right thing and acknowledge those who gave their lives to keep us safe?
We do acknowledge that, and it may well be that posthumous awards are made. We obviously do not comment on individual cases and potential awards prior to their being made, but if I say that I strongly sympathise with what the hon. Lady just said, I think she will understand what I mean.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to implementing a posthumous medal explicitly.
Response accuracy