Information on cases that the accident claims unit is dealing with relating to accidents to staff or visitors on MPA premises

Report: 5
Date: 22 March 2007
By: Director of Human Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

The Accident Claims Unit deal with all civil claims other than malfeasance and misfeasance cases under the self insured provision of the MPS insurance programme.

To date 587 claims cases relating to accidents to staff or visitors on MPA premises have been registered by Accident Claims since January 2001. The number of these claims per year has declined since 2004.

The amounts paid during the period 2001-2006 on these claims totals £4,136,000, with compensation payments declining markedly in the years 2004 – 2006.

A. Recommendation

That members note this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The Accident Claims Unit (part of the Directorate of Professional Standards Prevention and Organisational Command) is responsible for processing all civil claims made against the MPS in respect of motor vehicle accidents involving MPS police vehicles and civil claims other than those involving malfeasance or misfeasance (these are handled by the Directorate of Legal Services). These claims are dealt with on an internal basis due to the levels of self insurance carried by the MPS within its commercial insurance programme.

2. Claims are notified in writing to Accident Claims and are handled by a police staff claims unit using similar procedures to those adopted by commercial insurers. The claims unit is divided into two teams, with one team dedicated to motor claims and the other dealing with all other claims (including those listed at paragraph 1 above). Claims officers and managers in each team investigate each claim lodged and will correspond with the claimant to either settle or reject the claim. Claims requiring legal intervention are currently passed to commercial solicitors approved by the MPS Director of Legal Services for advice and legal representation at court if necessary.

3. The table below sets out details of the number of claims and payments in 2006 against all cases to illustrate the volume of claims processed and most recent annual compensation levels. At any given time, Accident Claims has some 2,500 open claims cases.

Table 1

4. Claims arising from accidents to staff or visitors on MPA premises are primarily Employer Liability (EL) personal injury cases arising from “slips and trips”, together with injuries arising from furniture defects, falling objects or work practices and faulty equipment (including training injuries). Very few Public Liability (PL) claims are recorded for visitors to MPA premises.

5. Since 2001 587 EL and PL claims have been registered by Accident Claims with 192 claims being categorised as “slips and trips.” Of the remainder 65 claims have been registered as training injuries with the balance of claims registered being attributed to furniture defects, falling objects, work practices or faulty equipment.

6. A total of £4,136,000 has been paid out in compensation on these claims since 2001 with the value of claims being paid each year reducing since 2003.

7. The reductions in volume and value of claims can be attributed to the increased emphasis on Health & Safety training/ awareness, the use of risk assessments in the workplace, improvements in the working environment, the introduction of mandatory officer safety training and a continued robust approach to the handling of claims made against the MPS.

8. It should be noted that this type of claim often takes some time to conclude due to the need for injuries to be fully assessed and quantified, so further payments on cases still registered as open may be required over the next few years. Table 2 below illustrates the figures and trend in declining claim volumes and values:

Table 2

C. Race and equality impact

There are no implications arising from this report.

D. Financial implications

The reduction in claims volumes and values in recent years indicates that budget allocations for compensation expenditure in this area may be adjusted to reflect the trend indicated. MPS Corporate Finance has reduced the budget allocation for this compensation head in recent years and, with the agreement of the MPA Treasurer, any payments in excess of annual budget allocation which relate to assessed previous years’ claims are to be met from the balance sheet provision specifically created for this purpose.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Mike Birt, Head of Accident Claims, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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