APPENDIX
SECOND REPORT (HC 894): CONFIDENTIALITY
OF POLICE SETTLEMENTS OF CIVIL CLAIMS
Published 2 September 1998. Government
Response (published as HC 80 1998-99) received 28 November 1998
The Government, in its response to the Committee's
1998 report, supported the view that forces should publish information
about civil actions in their annual reports. Disclosure is a matter
for forces but insurers may demand confidentiality as part of
the settlements reached. Many claims are settled without admission
of liability. Sometimes this is at the insistence of insurers,
even when the force concerned wishes to have the matter resolved
in court. Information on the total number of civil claims against
police forces, the legal costs and amounts paid has been published
in recent Annual Reports of HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary
and will appear again in his Report for 1999-2000.
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