Police officers and staff in Hertfordshire have been awarded more money in compensation claims than almost any other force across the UK, new figures have revealed.

Freedom of Information requests submitted to 44 police forces by the Newsquest Data Unit found Hertfordshire Constabulary paid out £437,349 of compensation money to its staff between 2015-19.

Out of the 37 forces that responded to the request across the UK, it meant the county’s police force paid the fifth largest amount of compensation money.

Only Lancashire Constabulary, Cleveland Police, Police Scotland, Metropolitan Police and Dyfed-Powys Police paid out a higher amount of compensation money to its staff.

Money paid out by Hertfordshire Constabulary was for injuries including psychological work-related stress and physical injuries such as fractures, strains, cuts and bruises.

The force also paid out money for damage to personal clothing and footwear.

The investigation also found the police force has dealt with 33 claims since 2015 – 14 of these are still active.

Speaking of the figures, a spokesperson from Hertfordshire Constabulary said: ““On a daily basis, police officers and staff are dealing with traumatic and dangerous incidents whilst assisting the public.

“Hertfordshire Constabulary takes its duties to protect its workforce very seriously. It undertakes training, risk assessments and works with staff associations to make sure our people are as safe as they can be.

“When a police officer or staff member is injured at work, it’s vital they receive appropriate care, support and treatment.”

Nationally, dog attacks, trauma following the death of a toddler and an accidental ‘shooting’ during a terrorism training exercise were among reported incidents that drove police employees to lodge more than 1,900 compensation claims against their own forces.

Since 2015, UK forces and their insurers have paid out over £20m to officers and staff – the equivalent of the first annual salary of more than 870 new officers.

Clive Knight, the Police Federation’s Health and Safety Lead, said preventing injuries was in the interest of all officers, their colleagues and the public in order to “reduce absences on an already stretched service”.

He added: “The Government and chief officers must do all they can to ensure the physical and mental welfare of officers is protected to allow them to keep doing their jobs, serving the public to the best of their ability.

“The consequences for officers who suffer an injury on duty are wide-ranging. It can affect their ability to perform their required role, their personal life and in extreme cases it can even end their policing career.

“As well as physical injury, it is important to note that increasingly these cases focus on the psychological harm police officers can suffer as a result of their work.”