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Last Updated November 11th 2024. Welcome to our guide on when you may be eligible to claim compensation for injuries caused by understaffing at work. Within this guide, we will discuss the eligibility criteria that must be met for all accident at work claims for them to be valid.

We will also provide examples of how you could suffer an injury at work due to understaffing. Additionally, we will discuss the types of evidence that could be used to support a personal injury claim. This guide will also share the different heads of loss that could be awarded if your claim is a success. Furthermore, this guide will conclude by looking at how one of our No Win No Fee solicitors could assist you with your case.

Contact our team of advisors if you have any questions regarding the personal injury claims process or to discuss your specific case. They can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via the following methods:

• Call on 0800 073 8804
• Talk to us about your claim online.
• Use the pop-up chat window.

Select A Section

1. How To Claim For Injuries Caused By Understaffing At Work
2. How Could You Be Injured Due To Inadequate Staffing Levels?
3. What Evidence Could Help You Prove Your Employers Liability?
4. What Could You Claim For Injuries Caused By Understaffing At Work?
5. How Our No Win No Fee Team Could Help You
6. Learn More About Claims For Injuries Caused By Understaffing At Work

How To Claim For Injuries Caused By Understaffing At Work

Your employer must take all reasonable steps to prevent you from sustaining injuries at work. This is their duty of care to you, and it is outlined within The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. For example, they should provide adequate training, perform regular risk assessments, and ensure there are enough members of staff to complete daily workplace duties safely.

In order to be eligible to make an accident at work claim, you must be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Your employer must have owed you a duty of care.
2. They must have then breached this duty.
3. Due to their breach, you suffered injuries.

Limitation Periods

If your injuries have been caused by understaffing at work, and you meet the personal injury claims eligibility criteria, you must also be aware that there is a time limit within which you have to start legal proceedings. This is set out as three years from the date of the accident within the Limitation Act 1980. The Act also lists some exceptions to this limitation period.

To learn what these are or to discuss your specific case in more detail, you can contact our advisory team today.

How Could You Be Injured Due To Inadequate Staffing Levels?

Sometimes, workplace injuries could be caused by understaffing within the workplace. Some examples of how you may be injured due to there not being enough staff members include:

• You received inadequate training to perform your manual handling duties due to there being insufficient members of staff available. Due to this, you suffered a back injury due to poor lifting techniques.
• Due to there being not enough staff members, you are asked to operate a piece of machinery that requires two people to operate safely. Due to this, you suffered a serious arm injury when operating the machinery by yourself.
• Since there is a lack of staff available, you are required to work overtime as a forklift driver. These additional hours caused you to suffer from exhaustion, which led to you crashing while using the forklift and suffering a head injury.

These are only a few examples. To discuss your specific case and receive free advice, you can contact our friendly team of advisors.

What Evidence Could Help You Prove Your Employers Liability?

If your injuries were caused by understaffing at work, you will need to gather evidence that proves your employer breached their duty of care, and that this caused your injuries. Some examples of the evidence that you could acquire include:

• CCTV footage – If any video footage captured your accident taking place, this could be used to prove how the accident occurred.
• Photographs – If possible, take pictures of the hazards that caused your injuries. You can also document visible injuries.
• Staff rotas – These can show how many staff members were working at the time of your injury. This information can then be cross-referenced with the nature of your job and whether the number of staff was sufficient.
• Contact information for witnesses – Anyone who witnessed your accident taking place could provide a statement about it at a later date.
• Medical evidence – For example, you could submit your medical records that outline the injuries you suffered and their treatments.

These are only a few examples. To receive more advice on the evidence you could collect for your specific case, you can contact a member of our advisory team.

What Could You Claim For Injuries Caused By Understaffing At Work?

So, how much compensation could you get for injuries caused by understaffing at work? The answer to this question can vary, depending on the circumstances surrounding your claim.

If you make an understaffing at work injury claim, you could potentially receive up to two heads of claim. All successful claims result in general damages, which is the first heading. This covers the pain and suffering you undergo as a result of your injuries, and it also covers the effect that they have on your quality of life. This is also known as loss of amenity.

The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are often used to help calculate how much compensation you could receive. This document contains a range of different injuries and illnesses with guideline compensation amounts beside them.

Keep in mind that these are only guidelines and aren’t guaranteed amounts. Likewise, the first entry in this table hasn’t been taken from the JCG.

Injury	Severity	Amount
Multiple serious injuries, plus special damages, like lost wages	Severe	Up to £1,000,000+
Back	(a) Severe (i)	£111,150 to £196,450
Chest	(b) Permanent	£80,240 to £122,850
Finger	(d) Amputation	£75,550 to £110,750
Leg	(b) Very serious	£66,920 to £109,290
Hand	(b) Serious	£68,070 to £103,200
Arm	(b) Permanent	£47,810 to £73,050
Elbow	(a) Severe	£47,810 to £66,920
Wrist	(b) Permanent	£29,900 to £47,870
General psychological damage	(b) Moderately Severe	£23,270 to £66,920

What Are Special Damages?

In some personal injury claims, claimants may be eligible to receive an additional figure known as special damages. This head of loss addresses the financial impact your injuries have caused you. Some examples of the financial losses you could experience and be compensated for include:

• Medical costs, such as paying for prescriptions.
• Loss of earnings, if you need to take time off work to recover.
• Travel costs, such as taxi fares to medical appointments or work.

Keeping hold of any evidence of these losses could help support your case for special damages. Evidence could include invoices, payslips and receipts.

If your injuries have been caused by understaffing at work, you can contact our advisors to see whether you may have a valid personal injury claim. They can also provide you with a free valuation of your case.

How Our No Win No Fee Team Could Help You

If you have suffered injuries that have been caused by understaffing at work, and you meet the personal injury claims eligibility requirements, one of the No Win No Fee solicitors on our team may be able to assist you with your case.

By offering you their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement, this means that you won’t be required to pay them an upfront fee for them to begin working on your case. Furthermore, you will not need to pay them for their services while your claim is in progress or it if fails.

They only take their payment if your claim is successful, and it’s taken from the compensation you receive. The percentage they take is capped by law, and it is referred to as a success fee.

Get In Touch With A Member Of Our Team

Our advisors are available 24/7 to answer your questions about claiming for injuries caused by understaffing at work.  Additionally, if they think you may have a valid claim, they can also connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor to assist you with starting legal proceedings.

To get in touch with them, you can:

• Call on 0800 073 8804
• Talk to us about your claim online.
• Use the pop-up chat window.

Learn More About Claims For Injuries Caused By Understaffing At Work

More from us: 

• We also have a guide on stress at work claims. Read it to find out if you could be owed compensation.
• We’re often asked “Can I be sacked for making a work accident claim?” Therefore, we answered the question in this guide.
• We’ve also answered the question, “I was injured at work, what are my rights?” This article contains the answer.

Information from other sources: 

• NHS – Heath A to Z.
• Ministry of Justice – Pre-Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims.
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Human factors: Staffing levels.

To see whether you could claim for your injuries caused by understaffing at work, contact our advisory team today.

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This guide explores the duty of care that the parties in control of public places have to visitors and when you could be eligible to start a public liability claim following an accident in a public place. 

We examine the evidence you can use to support a potential personal injury claim, as well as explain how personal injury compensation is calculated. We have also included some hypothetical scenarios to illustrate how a public accident could occur.

At the bottom of this guide, you will see an overview of the benefits of starting your potential claim with one of our expert solicitors under the specific type of No Win No Fee contract that they can offer. 

Our team of advisors can provide further guidance at any time. You can also get your eligibility to start a claim assessed free of charge. Get in touch today using any of the contact information given here:

• Call our team on  0800 073 8804.
• Complete our “Claim Online” form using this link.
• Click the live chat button on your screen for a quick response to your queries.

Select A Section

1. Am I Eligible To Make A Public Liability Claim?
2. What Are The Most Common Public Liability Claims?
3. How Do I Claim Against A Public Place Occupier? 
4. How Much Could My Public Liability Claim Be Worth?
5. Can I Make A No Win No Fee Public Accident Claim?
6. Public Accident Claim Resources

Am I Eligible To Make A Public Liability Claim?

The party in control of a public place (the occupier) has a duty of care to all visitors to the premises. The occupier must take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of those visitors, as per the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. 

To start a public liability claim, you will need to show the following:

1. The occupier of a public place owed you a duty of care as a visitor to the premises.
2. The occupier failed to take steps to ensure your reasonable safety, thus breaching their duty of care.
3. This breach caused an accident in which you were injured. 

Is Public Liability Insurance Compulsory?

Per the Association of British Insurers, public liability insurance is taken out by a business to cover the costs of potential claims made by members of the public for incidents that occur in connection with that business’ activities. While not compulsory for all businesses or organisations, if members of the public or clients can visit the premises, public liability insurance is a recommended expenditure.

What Is The Time Limit When Making A Public Liability Claim

Public liability claims need to be started, in most cases, within 3 years from the accident date as set out by the Limitation Act 1980. Exceptions to this in certain circumstances can apply, and an extension could be granted.

To get further information regarding the personal injury claims time limit, and to find out if any exceptions apply to your particular claim, contact our advisors today via the details given above.

What Are The Most Common Public Liability Claims?

“Public Places” can refer to shops, business premises, recreational facilities such as cinemas or sports centres, a public park, or the road network. Below we have provided some illustrative examples of how an occupier could fail to uphold their duty of care and cause an accident to occur.

• A shop sign was in a state of disrepair. A member of staff had reported that the sign was in need of replacement, but the shop owner had not taken measures to address the hazard. The sign fell as you were leaving the shop, hitting you on the head and causing serious brain damage. 
• A cafe provided incorrect allergen information on their menu. You subsequently suffered a severe allergic reaction. 
• A drink had been spilt at the top of the steps in a cinema. Staff had not cleaned up the hazard nor posted a warning sign. You slip and fall down the stairs, sustaining a broken ankle.

There are many other ways an occupier could fail to keep visitors safe. Contact our advisors today for a free assessment of your particular circumstances.

How Do I Claim Against A Public Place Occupier?

Making a public liability claim will require you to submit evidence. Some possible evidence you could collect includes:

• Seeking medical attention after an accident is always recommended. Not only is it important to get your injuries treated by a medical professional but it will produce medical records that can show the extent of your injuries.
• Keeping a record of what treatment you undergo, making particular note of the physical and mental symptoms you experience.
• You can request CCTV footage of yourself. This can be useful in showing how the accident occurred.
• You can also take photographs of your injuries, where the accident took place and what caused it. 
• Anyone who saw the accident take place could provide a witness statement so make sure you have their contact information.

Support with gathering evidence for your claim could be provided by one of our specialist solicitors. Get in touch with our advisors for a zero-cost assessment of your eligibility to begin a claim. If our team decides you have valid grounds to proceed, one of our solicitors could assist with collecting evidence. Speak to an advisor today using the contact information given below. 

How Much Could My Public Liability Claim Be Worth?

A successful public liability claim will see you awarded personal injury compensation comprised of up to two heads of claim. These are called general and special damages. Compensation for the physical and psychological impacts is awarded under general damages, whereas special damages could be awarded if you have sustained financial losses.

Those responsible for calculating a potential value for general damages in your claim can refer to your medical documents alongside the figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication from the Judicial College contains guideline award brackets for a wide array of injuries. A selection of these brackets is shown in the table here. The top entry in this table was not taken from the JCG.

Compensation Table

Please take note that the JCG values in this table are guidelines, not fixed payouts.

Edit

Type of Injury	Severity	Guideline Amount	Notes
Multiple Severe Injuries plus financial losses	Very Severe	Up to £1,000,000+	Multiple serious injuries with loss of earnings and other damages.
Paralysis	Tetraplegia (a)	£324,600 to £403,990	Upper and lower body paralysis. Awards within this bracket will depend on the level of pain, sensory impairment and the degree of independence
	Paraplegia (b)	£219,070 to £284,260	Paralysis of the lower body. Awards for paraplegia will depend on age and life expectancy, impact on sexual function, the extent of any pain and the degree of independence.
Brain Damage	Very Severe (a)	£282,010 to £403,990	The top end of this bracket will be appropriate for cases where there is little to no environmental response and no language function.
	Moderately Severe (b)	£219,070 to £282,010	Very serious disability requiring full time professional care. The level of award will depend on life expectancy, degree of independence, extent of physical limitations.
Epilepsy	Established Grand Mal (a)	£102,000 to £150,110	Awards for epilepsy depend on whether attacks are controlled by medication, the impact on work and social life and associated behavioural problems.
Neck Injuries	Severe (a)(ii)	£65,740 to £130,930	Serious fractures of the cervical spine resulting in severe disabilities.
Digestive System	Non-traumatic Injury (b)(i)	£38,430 to £52,500	Acute pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea resulting from severe toxicosis and necessitating hospital admission for days or weeks. Significant impact on work and social life.
Ankle Injuries	Severe (b)	£31,310 to £50,060	Injuries necessitating a long recovery period with significant residual disabilities including severely limited walking ability.
	Moderate (c)	£13,740 to £26,590	Torn ligaments. fractures and other injuries that give rise to disabilities such as difficulty walking on uneven ground or standing for long periods.

Can You Claim Special Damages?

Financial losses associated with your injuries can be reimbursed under special damages, the second of the two heads of claim. Some possible costs that could be reimbursed as part of your claim include:

• Lost earnings.
• Transport costs.
• Domestic Care.
• Home Adaptations. 
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Claiming special damages will require supporting evidence. Make sure you hold onto your payslips, receipts, travel tickets or other documents that show what monetary losses you have experienced.

To get a more detailed idea of what your potential claim could be worth, contact our team of advisors for a no-cost consultation regarding your particular circumstances using the details given below. 

Can I Make A No Win No Fee Public Accident Claim?

To begin your public liability claim, talk to one of our advisors for a free assessment of your eligibility. If our advisors decide you have valid grounds to proceed, one of our expert solicitors could offer to take up your claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement.

A Conditional Fee Agreement, also referred to as a CFA, is a No Win No Fee contract that offers considerable benefits. In most cases, you will not pay a fee for the solicitor to start work on your claim, nor will you pay for that work during the claims process itself. If your claim does not succeed, you will likewise not pay a fee for the solicitor’s services.

You will, however, pay a fee if the solicitor wins your claim. If your claim succeeds, you will receive personal injury compensation. The solicitor will take a percentage amount of this compensation. This is referred to as a success fee, and the maximum percentage that can be charged is capped by law. What this means is most of any compensation award is yours to keep. 

For more information on starting a public liability claim, or to get a free assessment of your particular circumstances, contact our team today via:

• Phone on 0800 073 8804. 
• Complete our “Claim Online” form here.
• Click the live chat button on your screen.

Public Accident Claim Resources

See some of the other public liability claim guides on our website:

• You can learn more about how to sue a company after an accident with this guide.
• Read about the benefits of working with one of our slip trip or fall solicitors for your personal injury claim.
• Find out how to start a personal injury claim if you slipped on water in a supermarket.

We have included these links to external pages you may find helpful:

• Administering first aid after an incident – NHS resource.
• You can read about claiming statutory sick pay on this Government webpage.
• Use this online tool from the Government to report a pothole in your area.

Thank you for reading our FAQ guide on starting a public liability claim. Our team of advisors can provide answers to any questions you may have, as well as assess your eligibility to claim free of charge. You can contact them at any time using the details given above. 

By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated 6th March 2025. This guide examines who could be eligible to begin a medical negligence claim for cancer misdiagnosed as adenomyosis. It also provides information on the duty of care medical professionals owe to their patients and how failing to uphold this duty can result in patients experiencing avoidable harm.

We will explain what adenomyosis is and how cancer could be misdiagnosed. Additionally, we provide information about how clinical medical negligence compensation is calculated under the two different heads of claim. These aim to address the different impacts, including physical, psychological, and financial, of the avoidable harm you suffered.

Towards the end of our guide, we have included a short overview of the benefits you can experience when beginning your medical negligence claim with one of our experienced solicitors under the specific type of No Win No Fee contract that they can offer. 

You can speak to a member of the advisory team at any time of the day or night. They can answer any questions you have about the medical negligence claims process. Additionally, they can check your eligibility to pursue compensation via a free assessment. To get in touch with our team, use the details given here:

• You can call our advisors on 0800 073 8804.
• Contact us online
• Use the live chat feature at the bottom of your screen.

Select A Section

1. When Could You Claim For Cancer Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis?
2. Why May Cancer Be Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis?
3. What Impact Could Cancer Being Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis Have?
4. What Should You Do After A Misdiagnosis?
5. Proving Medical Negligence In Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
6. What Could I Claim For Cancer Being Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis?
7. Why Choose A No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitor?
8. Read More About Medical Negligence Claims

When Could You Claim For Cancer Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis?

Medical professionals, whether they work in public or private healthcare, owe a duty of care to their patients. This duty requires that they provide care at the correct standard. Breaches of this duty can result in patients suffering avoidable harm.

To begin a medical negligence claim after your cancer was misdiagnosed as adenomyosis, these eligibility criteria will need to be satisfied:

1. You were owed a duty of care by the medical professional providing your treatment.
2. The medical professional breached their duty by failing to provide care at the correct standard.
3. This failure caused you to experience avoidable harm.

“Avoidable harm” refers to harm that would not have occurred had the correct standard of care been given. 

Time Limits When Claiming For Cancer Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis

In most cases, you will have 3 years to begin your medical negligence claim, as per the Limitation Act 1980. This counted either from the date the incident occurred or from the date of knowledge. The latter is the date you realised that medical negligence had occurred.

In certain circumstances, exceptions to the general 3-year limit can apply, and an extension may be granted. For example, if the party is under the age of 18, or they lack the mental capacity to seek compensation themselves.

To get further guidance on the medical negligence claims time limit, contact one of our advisors. You can reach them at any time using the contact information given above. 

Why May Cancer Be Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis?

According to the NHS, adenomyosis is a condition where the lining of the womb starts to grow into the muscle of the wall of the womb. Whilst there are several types of cancers that affect the female reproductive system, such as cervical and ovarian cancer, we have provided some scenarios below where womb cancer could be misdiagnosed as adenomyosis.

• While performing an ultrasound, a doctor misdiagnoses growths in your womb as adenomyosis and therefore does not refer you for further testing. The growths were cancerous and were able to spread to outside the womb, such as to the ovaries or fallopian tubes due to delayed treatment from being given the wrong diagnosis.
• Administrative errors in the hospital resulted in your biopsy results being mixed up with another patient’s. You were subsequently told the biopsy came back negative and that the mass in your womb wall was adenomyosis when you actually had cancer. This led to your requiring multiple surgical procedures to remove the cancer. 

There are a number of other ways in which a cancer misdiagnosis could take place. If your particular circumstances have not been given here, don’t worry, you could still be eligible to claim. Speak to our team today for a cost assessment of your eligibility to begin a medical negligence compensation claim. 

What Are The Symptoms of Uterine Cancer and Adenomyosis?

Cancer misdiagnosed as adenomyosis may occur due to the overlap of symptoms between the two conditions. However, each condition has its own list of symptoms.

The symptoms of uterine cancer may include:

• Painful or heavy menstruation 
• Significant cramping while menstruating 
• Continuous pain in the pelvis
• Pain during bowel movements or sexual intercourse

Some typical symptoms of womb cancer are:

• Post-menopausal spotting or bleeding
• Blood found in urine
• Pain experienced during sexual intercourse
• Unusually heavy periods

You cannot claim compensation for all cases of misdiagnosis. Typically, a claim must involve a medical professional misdiagnosing you despite telling them of symptoms that are typical of your condition. This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms, so do not be concerned if your symptoms were not included. 

If you have any queries about the symptoms of these conditions and whether you claim compensation for cancer misdiagnosed as adenomyosis, get in touch with our team of expert advisors.

What Impact Could Cancer Being Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis Have?

If cancer has been misdiagnosed as adenomyosis, there could be various physical and psychological impacts.

The cancer could spread due to the delayed diagnosis, for example, to the bladder. This could cause you to receive delayed treatment or more intensive treatment than you would have otherwise.

Additionally, you may suffer psychological harm as a result of the cancer misdiagnosis or the delay in treatment. You could also suffer side effects from treatment for a condition you did not have.

If you would like to discuss the harm you suffered because your cancer was misdiagnosed and find out whether you might have a valid medical negligence claim, please contact a member of our advisory team.

What Should You Do After A Misdiagnosis?

We understand that finding out your cancer was misdiagnosed as adenomyosis can put you in a very stressful situation. However, we recommend that you take the following steps if you can:

• Keep a diary logging your symptoms and how they have developed over time
• Collate your evidence to strengthen your case (we outline different types of evidence in the next section)
• Keep a record of the financial impact of your injury and its recovery 
• Look into starting a medical negligence claim 

Our advisors can guide you through these steps if you are unsure. They can also assess the eligibility of your claim and explain what factors could impact your compensation.

Proving Medical Negligence In Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims

Proving your cancer was misdiagnosed as adenomyosis forms a key part of any medical negligence claim. We have compiled this list of possible evidence you could collect in support of your potential case. 

• If someone attended your appointments with you, they could provide a witness statement during the claims process, so be sure to take down their contact information.
• Medical documentation that shows you were not provided with the correct standard of care. This could be, for example, a copy of an ultrasound or the results of any tests that were performed. You could also provide records from your cancer treatment to show you underwent more invasive procedures than you otherwise would have done had you received the correct diagnosis sooner. 
• Proof you incurred financial losses as a result of the avoidable harm caused. For example, you could provide payslips to demonstrate any lost income from time taken off work.

Use Of The Bolam Test

In certain medical negligence cases, the Bolam test may be used. This is where selected medical professionals assess the care you received to ascertain whether or not this care met the correct standard. 

You won’t be organising this yourself, and the test isn’t used in every medical negligence claim, but if it is used, the findings can be useful evidence for your claim.

In order to begin a medical negligence case, you have to demonstrate that the care you received fell below the correct standard and you experienced avoidable harm because of this. While you may be dissatisfied with the level of care you received, if the correct standard was met, you cannot claim.

One of our medical negligence solicitors could help with the collection of evidence. They have years of experience. Contact our advisors today for a no-cost assessment of your particular circumstances. If your claim is valid, they could connect you with one of our solicitors, who could not only assist you with collecting a thorough body of evidence but ensure your claim is brought within the relevant time limit. Contact our team today using the details given below.

What Could I Claim For Cancer Being Misdiagnosed As Adenomyosis?

If your medical negligence claim for cancer being misdiagnosed as adenomyosis succeeds, you will receive a medical negligence compensation payout. This payout can be comprised of two different heads of claim:

• General damages, which award for the physical and psychological impacts of the avoidable harm caused by the breach of duty.
• Special damages, which award for the financial losses stemming from the avoidable harm you experienced due to the breach of duty.

Those tasked with calculating a potential value for general damages can refer to your medical evidence alongside the figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication lists the guideline compensation brackets for various illnesses and injuries.

The table below provides a few figures found in the JCG that could be relevant to misdiagnosed cancer. In addition to these figures, we also look at an amount to demonstrate how you could be awarded if your cancer spread to multiple organs and special damages. This figure is not from the JCG. 

Compensation Table

Please note that the JCG figures in this table are guideline brackets, not guaranteed payouts.

Injury	Severity	Guideline Compensation
Multiple Severe Illnesses and Special Damages, Such As Lost Wages	Very Serious	Up to £500,000+
Female Reproductive System	Infertility caused by injury or disease (a)	£140,210 to £207,260
	Permanent sexual dysfunction (b)	£52,490 to £124,620
	Infertility without aggravating features (c)	£68,440 to £87,070
	Infertility without sexual dysfunction or medical complication (d)	£21,920 to £44,840
	Infertility in an older person (e)	£8,060 to £22,800
Lungs	Serious	£122,850 to £165,860
	Lung Cancer	£85,460 to £118,790
Spleen	Loss of Spleen	£25,380 to £32,090

Special Damages

As said above, any financial losses that stem from medical negligence could be recovered under special damages. Examples of costs you could claim for include:

• Lost earnings.
• Home adaptation costs.
• Domestic care and support costs.
• Travel costs.
• Medical expenses.

Claiming special damages requires supporting evidence, so it is important to retain copies of any documents (your payslips, travel tickets, prescriptions) that show you incurred costs as a result of the harm caused.

It is important to reiterate that the compensation amounts in this section are only a guide. To get a more detailed estimate of the total value of compensation for your potential claim, contact our team today using any of the information given below.

Why Choose A No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Solicitor?

Your first step to starting claim for cancer that was misdiagnosed as adenomyosis is to speak to one of our advisors. They can assess your particular circumstances and address any concerns you may have.

If our team decides you have a valid claim, one of our solicitors specialising in medical negligence cases offer to take up your case under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee contract that presents claimants with notable benefits, including:

• No upfront fee for the solicitor to commence work on your claim.
• No fees for this work as your claim moves forward.
• No fee for their services if the claim fails.

Following a successful claim, you will receive medical negligence compensation. The solicitor will deduct a percentage amount of this compensation as their success fee. Due to a legal cap applying to this success fee, you will keep the majority of any compensation award.

You can speak to one of the advisors from our team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They’re available with free advice about the medical negligence claims process. Additionally, they can assess your eligibility to begin a compensation claim. To speak to a team member, use the details given here:

• You can call our advisors on 0800 073 8804.
• Complete our “Claim Online” form via this link.
• Use the live chat feature at the bottom of your screen.

Read More About Medical Negligence Claims

You can see some of our other medical negligence claim guides here:

• Read about how to claim for an ovarian cancer misdiagnosis and what evidence you can collect to support your claim.
• Find out who could be eligible to start a lung cancer misdiagnosis claim.
• Learn more about the eligibility criteria to begin a leukaemia misdiagnosis compensation claim.

We have also provided some relevant links to external sites:

• Read more about good medical practice with this resource from the General Medical Council.
• Information on the NHS Constitution for England on the Government website.
• Learn more about the Patient Advice and Liason Service (PALS) from the NHS.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our guide on starting a claim for cancer being misdiagnosed as adenomyosis. Our team of advisors can answer any questions you may have as well as offer a free consultation regarding your eligibility to claim. Use the contact information above to speak to a member of the team. 

In this guide, we will answer the question, “If an optometrist did not refer me to hospital for testing, could I claim compensation?”. You will find information on the duty of care owed by optometrists and how failure to uphold this can cause patients to experience harm.

We have included some examples of how optometrists could negligently miss symptoms of health conditions and subsequently fail to refer you for further testing at a hospital. You will also find information on the types of harm this could lead to, as well as information on how compensation for that harm is calculated.

Towards the end of this guide, you will see a brief overview of the benefits of working with one of our solicitors under the type of No Win No Fee contract they can offer.

Our team of advisors are available to provide further guidance on the claims process, as well as offer a cost-free, no-obligation consultation on your eligibility to claim. To speak to an advisor from our team, you can get in touch via:

• Phone on 0800 073 8804 
• Complete our “Claim Online” form
• Click the live chat button for a quick response to your queries.

Select A Section

1. Could I Claim If An Optometrist Did Not Refer Me To Hospital For Testing?
2. When Could Optometrists Fail To Refer You For Testing?
3. What Evidence Should I Collect To Prove My Claim?
4. How Much Could Your Claim Against A Negligent Optometrist Be Worth?
5. How Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help If An Optometrist Did Not Refer Me To Hospital?
6. Further Information On Negligence Claims

Could I Claim If An Optometrist Did Not Refer Me To Hospital For Testing?

Following a delayed or missed diagnosis of an eye condition, you may be thinking, “the optometrist did not refer me to hospital, could I make a claim?”. You may be eligible to claim compensation if you can show that the optometrist acted negligently by not referring you for further testing.

There is an expectation imposed on optometrists that they provide you with the correct standard of care during your eye exam. According to the NHS, an optometrist can refer you to a GP or hospital for further investigations if necessary. A failure to refer you for testing by providing care that fell below this standard could constitute a breach of this duty and cause you to suffer harm if an abnormality in your eyes was missed.

In order to begin a claim for optometrist negligence after the optometrist failed to refer you to the hospital for further tests, you will need to demonstrate the following:

• The optometrist owed you a duty of care.
• They failed to uphold their duty.
• You suffered harm because of that failure.

Is There A Time Limit To Claim If An Optometrist Did Not Refer Me To Hospital?

In most cases, the time limit to begin a claim for optometrist negligence is 3 years, as per the Limitation Act 1980. This is counted either from the negligent action itself or from the date you would have been expected to connect the harm with the breach of duty. This is referred to as the date of knowledge. However, there are exceptions, such as if the person is under the age of 18 or they lack the mental capacity to start their own claim.

To get further advice on the time limit and eligibility criteria, speak to our team today using the contact details above.

When Could Optometrists Refer You For Testing?

Below we have detailed some scenarios where an optometrist could fail to refer you to hospital and cause you avoidable harm. This could include:

• An optometrist missed clear symptoms of eye cancer and therefore did not refer you for further tests. This led to the cancer advancing and necessitating a more aggressive treatment plan.
• During your diabetes eye screening, the optometrist failed to diagnose diabetic retinopathy correctly. This is an eye disease that can lead to damage of the blood vessels in your eye. By failing to refer you to a hospital for further testing, you experienced a delay in treatment and consequently suffered permanent damage to your vision. 

There are many other circumstances where an optometrist could act negligently, so if you do not see your particular circumstances here, you may still be eligible to claim. Speak to our advisors to discuss your potential case in more specific detail.

What Evidence Should I Collect To Prove My Claim?

Supporting evidence is used to demonstrate both the negligent action of an optometrist, and the impacts this action had on your health and well-being. To improve your claim’s chances of success, you should acquire as much thorough evidence as you can. We have given some examples here:

• Medical documentation, such as the photographs of your eye from the initial examination, will be key evidence in your optometrist negligence claim. 
• Another individual who attended your appointment with you could provide a witness statement, so be sure to take down their contact information.
• Write a diary during the course of your treatment, in particular detailing any symptoms and the psychological effects this had on you. 

You could get support from one of our solicitors. They have experience handling optometrist negligence claims and can assist you through the stages of gathering evidence, building your case, and seeking compensation.

How Much Could Your Claim Against A Negligent Optometrist Be Worth?

In this section, we will aim to answer the question, “What could my claim be worth after an optometrist did not refer me to hospital for further testing?”. You will receive a compensation payout if your claim for optometrist negligence is a success. This compensation can be comprised of two different heads of claim, these are called general and special damages.

General damages awards for both the physical and psychiatric impacts of the harm caused by a breach of duty. To calculate the potential value of general damages, solicitors can refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication contains guideline award brackets for various different types of harm, we have used a selection of the eye injury brackets in the table below. 

Compensation Table

Please note this table has been included to act as guidance only.

Edit

Type of Harm	Severity	Guideline Compensation Bracket	Notes
Injuries affecting sight	Total Blindness (b)	In the region of £268,720	Complete loss of sight in both eyes.
	Loss of Sight in One Eye, Reduced Vision in Remaining Eye (c)(i)	£95,990 to £179,770	Cases where there is serious risk of further deterioration in the remaining eye. This goes beyond some risk of sympathetic ophthalmia.
	Loss of Sight in One Eye, Reduced Vision in Remaining Eye (c)(ii)	£63,950 to £105,990	Reduced vision in the other eye alongside other problems, such as double vision.
	Total Loss of One Eye (d)	£54,830 to £65,710	Awards within the bracket will depend on age, psychiatric consequences and cosmetic effects.
	Complete Loss of Sight in One Eye (e)	£49,270 to £54,830	This awards takes into account risk of sympathetic ophthalmia. This bracket also awards for cases involving scarring of the eye region.
	Incomplete Loss of Sight in One Eye (f)	£23,680 to £39,340	Serious but not total loss of vision in one eye, without significant risk of loss or reduction of vision in the remaining eye.
	Minor Permanent Vision Impairment in One or Both Eyes (g)	£9,110 to £20,980	Cases involving some double vision, or permanent sensitivity to bright lights.

Special Damages

Special damages awards for the financial losses stemming from the harm you have sustained due to a breach of duty. Below are some possible costs you could be reimbursed for under special damages:

• Travel costs.
• In-home care costs.
• Home adaptations.
• Loss of income.
• Medical expenses.

Remember to keep copies of any receipts, travel tickets and your payslips as proof you incurred financial losses due to your injuries. To get a more detailed estimate of the value of your potential claim, contact our advisors via the contact information given below.

How Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help If An Optometrist Did Not Refer Me To Hospital?

Talk to our team of dedicated advisors for a free consultation on your eligibility to begin a claim. If they decide you have a valid claim, one of our solicitors could offer to take your case on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). 

Making your optometrist negligence claim under a CFA presents a number of benefits, including:

• No fees at the start of the claims process for the solicitor to begin working on your case.
• You will also not have to pay fees for this work during the claims process itself.
• Finally, if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay the solicitor for their services. 

Following the success of your optometrist negligence claim, you will be awarded a compensation payout. The solicitor will take a percentage amount of the compensation as their success fee. The maximum success fee percentage is subject to a legal cap, so therefore, the majority of the awarded compensation will go to you. 

For further guidance on the question, “An optometrist did not refer me to hospital, can I claim compensation?” speak to our advisors today. They can answer any questions you may have as well as assess your eligibility to claim free of charge. Talk to our team via the following contact details:

• Phone on 0800 073 8804 
• Complete our “Claim Online” form
• Click the live chat button for a quick response to your queries.

Further Information On Negligence Claims

See our other claims guides:

• Read our guide on how to start a medical negligence claim.
• Find out more about claiming for a loss of vision.
• Learn about the eligibility criteria to start a claim for GP negligence.

External resources:

• The General Optical Council have prepared this guidance on raising concerns about an optician.
• This resource from the NHS provides information on what to do following eye injuries.
• See the NHS Constitution For England, published by the Government.

Thank you for reading our guide. We hope we have provided a satisfactory answer to the question, “An optometrist did not refer me to hospital for testing, could I claim compensation?”. You can speak to our advisors for further information or to get a no-cost, zero-obligation assessment of your eligibility to claim. Contact our team via any of the details given above.

Have you had an accident that was not your fault? Do you believe that you would be eligible for compensation? Would you like to know how is compensation calculated? 

We explain the types of losses whether it be for the pain and suffering caused by the accident or the out of pocket loss (loss of earnings, travel, care and assistance, medical treatment or other costs) caused by the injuries you suffered and how these can make up your settlement for personal injury compensation. 

We also explain how having the help of an expert solicitor working on a No Win No Fee basis can be beneficial for your personal injury claim. 

At Legal Advice, our team of advisors are dedicated to assisting you and will answer any questions you may have in a no obligation chat:

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Contact us online
• Use our live chat feature

Browse Our Guide

• How Is Compensation Calculated?
• How Much Personal Injury Compensation Could I Receive For My Injury? 
• Can I Claim Personal Injury Compensation If The Accident Was Partly My Fault?
• What Deductions Will Be Made To My Compensation? 
• Can I Make A No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claim? 
• Learn More About Personal Injury Cases

How Is Compensation Calculated? 

When calculating compensation, the damages could be split between “General Damages” and “Special Damages”. General damages are compensation for your pain, suffering, loss of amenity, or PSLA. Whereas Special Damages are all “out of pocket” losses that can include anything from loss of earnings, care and assistance, medical treatment or travel costs that you experienced due to your injuries. These are known as ‘heads of loss’.

If you want to know, how is compensation calculated, if you make a successful claim, you could be awarded up to both heads of loss, or just general damages. In order to claim special damages, you will need to present documentation of your losses. This can include items such as receipts, invoices and your wage slips.

To help calculate your general damages, those responsible for valuing your claim may use a tool known as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). These guidelines provide details and valuations for injuries that you might have suffered. The JCG provides us with guideline valuation brackets for each injury, whether it be a minor or serious injury, a fatality, a loss of a limb or a bruised knee. Depending on medical evidence and prognosis periods this will determine the amount of compensation that is awarded for your injury and/or injuries. 

If you have any questions about how compensation is calculated, or if you would like a free valuation of your personal injury claim, please contact one of our team members on the details above.

How Much Personal Injury Compensation Could I Receive For My Injury?

When calculating compensation, those doing so will use a number of different tools to reach a correct and fair amount. As previously mentioned, this can include a combination of your medical reports along with the JCG. 

Below, you can see some examples of compensation brackets taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The first entry in this list hasn’t been taken from the JCG and is purely illustrative. As every claim is different, these figures are only intended as guidance.

Compensation Guidelines

• Multiple severe injuries and special damages could result in payouts up to £1,000,000+.
• Very Severe Head Injuries resulting in little to no response to the surrounding environment could result in £344,150 to £493,000.
• Moderately Severe Head Injury resulting in the person being severely disabled and requiring constant care may be valued between £267,340 to £344,150.
• Moderate Head Injuries resulting in an effect on a person’s sight, speech, and senses with a  risk of epilepsy, and with an effect on the open job market could be compensated between £183,190 to £267,340.
• A severe knee injury with serious damage and disruption to the joint, with a chance of developing osteoarthritis or gross ligamentous damage which could range between £85,100 – £117,410.
• Moderate knee injuries, such as a dislocation, a torn cartilage or meniscus which results in minor instability could be valued between £18,110 to £31,960.
• Severe Fractures to Fingers potentially lead to minor amputation and/or result in a deformity, poor grip, and reduced functioning, reaching up to £44,840.
• Moderate Hand Injury where surgery has failed and a permanent disability remains could reach between £6,910 to £16,200.

To further discuss how is compensation calculated, contact a member of our advisory team.

Can I Claim Personal Injury Compensation If The Accident Was Partly My Fault?

The short answer to this question is Yes. There are different factors that will be taken into account when calculating the compensation for a personal injury claim. If you can prove:

• The Defendant (Third Party) owed you a duty of care. This is a legal obligation that is placed on individuals or organisations to take reasonable care to avoid causing foreseeable harm to others. 
• The Defendant ( Third Party) breached this duty. 
• As a result of this breach, you sustained injuries. 

Taking the above into account it must be noted that the court could reduce the amount of compensation to reflect your degree of fault. This is when we would rely upon the defence of contributory negligence (when you contributed to your injury) and split liability (when you contributed to the accident). 

If you are found partly at fault for either the accident that caused your injury, or the injury itself, your compensation will be reduced accordingly. For example, if you are found to be 20% responsible for the accident, you can only receive up to 80% of the compensation.

To discuss how is compensation calculated in contributory negligence cases, please speak to one of our advisors.

What Deductions Will Be Made To My Compensation?

Depending on how you make your claim will ultimately have an impact on the deductions made to your compensation. For example, if you made your compensation claim via a No WIn No Fee solicitor and it was successful, the following deductions may apply:

• Success fee, which is subject to a legislative cap.
• A deduction for After the Event (ATE) insurance if this was taken out on your behalf by your solicitor.

If you make your claim in a different way there will be other deductions that will apply. For more information please call our advisors who will provide you with free advice regarding deductions that can be taken from your compensation.

Can I Make A No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claim?

If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim, you may wish to have a solicitor’s support. One of our expert personal injury solicitors could help. Our solicitors have many years of experience and expertise with personal injury cases. Furthermore, they provide their services on a No Win No Fee basis. 

They can assist with obtaining evidence to support your claim for compensation, whether it be medical reports, employee records, public records or police reports. They can make contact with the third party’s insurers and negotiate your settlement. 

You can proceed with our specialist solicitors under a Conditional Fee Agreement. This is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. For you, it means that:

• There are no upfront costs.
• You won’t be asked to cover ongoing fees as the claim progresses.
• There also aren’t fees to pay for your solicitor’s work on your personal injury claim should it fail.

The only amount you pay is deducted from the compensation awarded to you. This is known as a success fee and it will only be taken if your claim succeeds. A legislative cap limits this amount. 

Should you have any queries or would like to proceed with a personal injury claim,  then please contact a member of the team. In addition to discussing how is compensation calculated, they can advise on how much your claim could be worth. Furthermore, they can also assess your eligibility to seek compensation. 

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Contact us online
• Use our live chat feature

Learn More About Personal Injury Cases

Please check out the links below that could help if you are considering making a personal injury claim:

• Guidance on accident at work claims if you sustained injuries in the workplace.
• Advice on making a public liability claim, including eligibility criteria and how compensation might be awarded.
• Information about road traffic accident claims with details on criteria and the Whiplash Reform Programme.

Further resources:

• An overview on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the government.
• Advice and guidance on providing first aid from the NHS.
• Information about solicitors from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Thank you for reading our guide about how is compensation calculated. If you have any further questions, or if you would like to start a claim, please get in touch.

On this page you can find the results of our research and statistics on sexual offences within police forces in the UK.

Our Research Into Sexual Offences In The UK

Legal Expert has conducted a series of Freedom of Information requests on the number of sexual offences that have been recorded in UK police forces within the last 12 months (from October 2022 to October 2023).

Below, you can find the results for each police force.

How Legal Expert Can Help You

Legal Expert offers a specialist legal support and claims service for anyone who has been subjected to a sexual offence, such as abuse, assaults or rape.

We understand how difficult and traumatic these incidents can be, especially within a working environment or at the hands of those in society we are meant to trust. If you’d like to speak with us in confidence you can do so by calling 0800 073 8804

You can also message us via our live chat box, or you can submit a claim enquiry online

Sexual Offences In UK Police Forces

To browse the results by police force, please see below. For more information on our research and statistics on sexual offences, head here.

Wiltshire Police

Wiltshire Police has investigated 8 allegations of sexual misconduct made by staff this year.

The majority of conduct cases raised by the force related to sexual harassment, which accounted for 50% of allegations between October 2022 to October 2023.

Sexual assault was also investigated by the force and made up 37.5% of allegations. 

Further data obtained from Wiltshire Police via a Freedom of Information request revealed that members of the public made 3 complaints about sexual misconduct.

Amongst the allegations included sexual assault and an abuse of position for a sexual purpose.

The force has dismissed 3 police officers for sexual misconduct in the same period.

Leicestershire Constabulary

Leicestershire Constabulary has investigated 32 allegations of sexual misconduct made by staff in the last year.

The data, which covers the period from October 2022 to October 2023, revealed that the majority of allegations related to sexual harassment (53%).

Other common allegations included relationships with colleagues where there was a power imbalance (28%), sexual assault and abuse of position for sexual purpose (both 9%)

Furthermore, the force received 6 complaints from the public in relation to sexual misconduct.

Amongst the allegations included sexual assault and sexual harassment.

As a result of sexual misconduct allegations made against Leicestershire Constabulary in the last year, a total of 3 police officers have been dismissed.

Gloucestershire Constabulary

Gloucestershire Constabulary have investigated 8 allegations of sexual misconduct made by staff this year.

Sexual harassment accounted for half the allegations between October 2022 to October 2023.

Another common allegation investigated by the force was sexual assault (37.5%).

In addition, a Freedom of Information request submitted to Gloucestershire Constabulary revealed that 5 complaints about sexual misconduct had been made by the public.

Sexual assault was the most common complaint received by the force.

Gloucestershire Constabulary stated that less than 5 police officers were dismissed or would have been dismissed if not already resigned from the force.

Surrey Police

Surrey Police has investigated 10 complaints relating to sexual misconduct made by staff this year.

A total of 8 allegations were made regarding sexual misconduct between October 2022 to October 2023.

In addition, a further 2 allegations were made in relation to sexual assault

Data obtained from Surrey Police via a Freedom of Information request revealed that 5 allegations of sexual assault were made from members of the public.

A member of the public also made an allegation of rape against the force.

No police officers were dismissed from the force for sexual misconduct during this period.

Derbyshire Constabulary

Derbyshire Constabulary received 35 complaints regarding sexual misconduct in the last year.

More than 63% of sexual misconduct complaints were made by staff, whilst the remaining 37% were made by the public.

The most common complaint made by staff between October 2022 to October 2023 related to sexual comments, accounting for 45% of complaints.

Around 23% of complaints made internally were caused by sexual harassment.

In contrast, the most common complaint made by members of the public were to do with sexual assault or abuse of position for sexual purpose (38% and 31%, respectively).

However, no officers were dismissed for sexual misconduct in the last year.

West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police have received 16 complaints from the public regarding sexual misconduct in the last year.

Over 56% of those complaints were raised due to allegations of sexual assault.

Other complaints involved incidents of sexual harassment and an abuse of position for sexual purposes.

The data further revealed that 14 conduct cases were raised following complaints of sexual misconduct from staff between October 2022 to October 2023.

Around 36% related to sexual assault or other sexual conduct, whilst 28% involved incidents of sexual harassment.

No police officers were dismissed from the force for sexual misconduct in the same period.

Devon and Cornwall Police

Devon and Cornwall Police received 34 complaints regarding sexual misconduct in the last year.

Around 82% were internal conduct cases that were raised following complaints made by staff and resulted in the force recording 44 individual allegations.

The most common allegation made by staff related to discreditable conduct, which accounted for 48% of allegations.

Other common allegations included sexual assault (34%) and abuse of position for sexual purpose (9%).

As a result of public complaint cases, the force recorded 8 individual allegations including for discreditable conduct, sexual assault and abuse of position for sexual purpose.

In addition, between October 2022 and October 2023, four officers were the subject of gross misconduct hearings related to sexual misconduct.

One was dismissed without notice, whilst three officers would have been dismissed if they were still serving.

Suffolk Constabulary

Suffolk Constabulary dealt with 7 sexual misconduct allegations from staff in the last year.

Amongst the allegations included sexual assault, sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual comments.

One allegation involved inappropriate communication, sexualised comments and behaviour.

The data, which covers October 2022 to October 2023, was obtained from Suffolk Constabulary via a Freedom of Information request.

However, no sexual misconduct complaints were made by the public.

In addition, no officers in Suffolk Constabulary have been dismissed as a result of sexual misconduct allegations.

Norfolk Constabulary

Norfolk Constabulary dealt with 16 sexual misconduct allegations from staff in the last year.

The most common allegation made by staff was sexual assault, which accounted for 38% of allegations recorded between October 2022 to October 2023.

Other common allegations included inappropriate communications (25%) and sexual harassment (19%).

A Freedom of Information request to Norfolk Constabulary further identified that 3 public complaints were made against the force regarding sexual misconduct.

Two incidents involved an inappropriate relationship whilst one case involved sexual assault.

Just one officer in Norfolk Constabulary was dismissed in relation to sexual conduct in the last year.

Hertfordshire Constabulary

There were 18 sexual misconduct allegations made against Hertfordshire Constabulary in the last year.

A Freedom of Information request uncovered that out of 18 sexual misconduct allegations made between October 2022 to October 2023, a total of 16 were made by staff.

Whilst the most common incident alleged related specifically to sexual misconduct, other common incidents included allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape.

A further two complaints made against the force by members of the public involved allegations of inappropriate sexualised behaviour and an abuse of position for sexual gain. 

Six police officers were dismissed from the force as a result of sexual misconduct complaints during the same period.

Cambridgeshire Police

A total of 21 sexual misconduct allegations were made against Cambridgeshire Police in the last year.

Out of the allegations, 18 were made by staff between October 2022 to October 2023.

The most common allegation reported by staff related specifically to sexual misconduct, which accounted for 10 complaints. 

Two incidents involved sexual assault allegations whilst another two complaints were about rape.

There were also isolated complaints about sexual harassment, abuse of position for sexual misconduct and inappropriate sexualised behaviour.

A further four complaints were made by members of the public, including two allegations of sexual assault.

One complaint regarded an abuse of position for sexual gain whilst another involved a sexual harassment allegation. 

Three police officers were dismissed from the force as a result of sexual misconduct allegations in the same period.

Bedfordshire Police

A total of 22 sexual misconduct allegations were made against Bedfordshire Police in the last year.

Four of those complaints were received from members of the public between October 2022 to October 2023.

Two allegations related to inappropriate sexualised behaviour, whilst another involved a sexual assault allegation.

A further incident was reported to the force regarding sexual harassment.

Out of the 18 complaints received from staff in the same period, around 44% related to sexual misconduct whilst 27% involved a sexual assault allegation. 

Complaints were also made by staff alleging rape and sexual harrassment, with both incident types each making up 11% of allegations. 

One incident involved an allegation of abuse of position for sexual gain.

Just two police officers were dismissed from Bedfordshire Police during this period. 

Humberside Police

A total of 16 sexual misconduct complaints were made against Humberside Police in the last year.

Three of the complaints were lodged by members of the public between October 2022 to October 2023.

Amongst the allegations made by members of the public included sexual assault, harassment and rape. 

Out of the remaining 13 sexual misconduct complaints made by staff, the majority of allegations related to sexual assault, rape or other sexual conduct.

One incident involved an allegation of sexual harassment. 

During this period, no police officers have been dismissed from the force for sexual misconduct.

Cheshire Constabulary

Cheshire Constabulary received 16 complaints regarding sexual misconduct this year.

Half of those complaints were made by staff between October 2022 to October 2023.

Around 63% of complaints alleged sexual harassment, whilst the remaining involved allegations of sexual assault.

Out of the 8 complaints received from the public during the same period, 50% involved sexual assault allegations.

There was also an isolated incident where sexual harassment had been alleged.

Three police officers would have been dismissed but ultimately resigned.

Nottinghamshire Police

Nottinghamshire Police staff members raised 40 complaints regarding sexual misconduct this year.

Amongst the allegations made by staff included sexual assault, sexual harassment, abuse of position for sexual purpose and other sexual conduct. 

A further 12 sexual misconduct complaints were made against the force by members of the public between October 2022 to October 2023.

Allegations included abuse of position for sexual purpose and also for the purpose of pursuing an inappropriate emotional relationship.

Members of the public also alleged incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

West Yorkshire Police

A total of 49 sexual misconduct complaints were lodged against West Yorkshire Police this year.

A Freedom of Information request made to the force revealed that more sexual misconduct allegations were raised by staff than the public between October 2022 to October 2023.

Out of complaints made by staff members, a quarter related to inappropriate sexual behaviour and comments.

Around 18% of staff complaints were linked to inappropriate sexual comments whilst sexual assault formed 13% of allegations.

The majority of sexual misconduct complaints made by members of the public related to sexual assault, which accounted for 40% of allegations. 

Hampshire Constabulary

Hampshire Constabulary has received 26 sexual misconduct complaints in the last year.

One of those complaints was made by a member of the public and involved allegations of sexual assault.

The remaining 25 complaints were raised by staff at Hampshire Constabulary.

Around 56% of the complaints lodged by staff between October 2022 to October 2023 related directly to sexual misconduct allegations.

In contrast, 44% of complaints were made as a result of sexual offence allegations. 

Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police have received 56 sexual misconduct complaints in the last year.

Figures obtained from the force via a Freedom of Information request revealed that 43 of those complaints were made by staff.

Sexual assault was the leading allegation made by staff, making up 40% of all staff complaints regarding sexual misconduct.

Sexual harassment was the second most common allegation, accounting for 30% of complaints.

Similarly, out of 13 sexual misconduct complaints made by the public between October 2022 to October 2023, sexual assault was the most common allegation.

There were also two incidents where police officers allegedly abused their position of power.

In the same period, 6 police officers were dismissed at hearings.

However, it should be noted that the dismissals may be as a result of investigations that started prior to October 2022.

Wales

Sexual assault is the leading cause of sexual misconduct complaints made against police forces in Wales.

Out of 34 sexual misconduct complaints received from forces, around 56% were raised as a result of sexual assault allegations.

The figure of 34 complaints was obtained following a Freedom of Information request submitted to police forces in Wales.

Although Dyfed-Powys Police, North Wales Police and South Wales Police were able to provide data covering October 2022 to October 2023, Gwent Police denied the request.

Figures indicated that South Wales Police dealt with more sexual misconduct complaints than any other police force in Wales during this period.

The force received 24 complaints, 3 of which were made by members of the public and related to sexual assault.

Staff complaints resulted in 21 conduct matters being raised by South Wales Police.

A total of 10 conduct matters were raised due to allegations of sexual assault, while a further 9 were in relation to sexual harassment.

There were 7 police officers dismissed from South Wales for sexual misconduct in the same period.

North Wales Police dealt with 8 sexual misconduct complaints, half of which were raised by members of the public and related to sexual assault.

One police officer was dismissed arising from a conviction for sexual assault.

Dyfed-Powys Police received no sexual misconduct complaints from the public, but did receive two complaints from staff due to sexual assault allegations.

Just one police officer was dismissed for sexual misconduct.