Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Police: Compensation

Monday 18 September 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • 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.
  • Violence against police is not normalised, and the government has legislated to double the maximum sentence for assaults against emergency workers.
  • The Minister sympathises with the sentiment to acknowledge those who gave their lives to keep the public safe.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

Discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on compensation adequacy for injured police officers.

Question

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?

Answer from Chris Philp

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.

Not addressed: Specific adequacy of compensation not addressed, only general scheme mentioned.

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Q2 Kate Hollern Lab
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Chris Philp

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to changing guidelines explicitly.

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Q3 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Crime & Law Enforcement Veterans
Context

Calls for a posthumous medal to acknowledge police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Question

Why will the Minister not do the right thing and acknowledge those who gave their lives to keep us safe?

Answer from Chris Philp

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to implementing a posthumous medal explicitly.

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