£500m cop compo to be paid out

Watchdog calls for urgent shake-up

MORE than £500million is to be paid out to police and prison officers injured on duty, an Audit Office report has revealed.

The figure emerged as the public finances watchdog warned compensation schemes for PSNI and NIPS staff hurt at work are “not fit for purpose”.

It claimed “substantial changes are needed to make police and prison service injury schemes sustainable”.

Comptroller and Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said the systems are two of the largest of their type in Northern Ireland.

His report added: “Both schemes have seen costs soar over the last five years, with £33.9million spent by PSNI and £2.3million by the NIPS in 2018-19.

“Total liabilities are estimated at £488million for the PSNI and £53million for the Prison Service.”

Mr Donnelly told how “changes are necessary if the schemes are to

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be affordable in the future”. He said: “The current review of the Prison Service scheme should be joined by a similar, fundamental review of the PSNI scheme.

“Both should provide clarity on their aims, how these will be accomplished and how appropriate checks and balances can be established.

“The end-to-end process for the PSNI scheme needs to be simplified with reconsideration given to the roles of the PSNI, the Policing Board and the Department of Justice.”

Mr Donnelly’s report found:

the scale of claims in NI is significantly greater than England the PSNI scheme is complex and challenging to administer

the payment of injury awards is not always equitable, and

there are no time limits for applications.

The Audit Office found as of March 31 last year there were 2,881 awards to former police officers and 181 for former prison officers.