Hampshire PC to keep almost £5,000 damages for cut thumb

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-22467848

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A police officer who cut her thumb while dismantling a cannabis factory is to keep almost £5,000 in damages, following a Court of Appeal ruling.

Kerry Ann Taylor was hurt when she put her hand through a window at a house in Southsea while disposing of class B cannabis plants and equipment, in 2008.

The officer sued Hampshire Constabulary and was awarded the damages by a judge at Winchester County Court.

Now an appeal by the force has been dismissed at the Court of Appeal.

PC Taylor was injured when she tried to open the window after feeling nauseous while clearing the property, not noticing it had been sealed.

The officer, who was wearing latex gloves to protect against skin irritation, pushed at the glass, which broke, and her right hand went through it.

Hampshire police had appealed against the previous finding that the force breached its duty under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 in failing to provide PC Taylor with thick gloves.

But two judges dismissed the appeal against the finding on liability.

Lord Justice Elias said there was an obligation to provide thick gloves at the time to protect against the risk of injury as the operation could involve her carrying out a whole range of tasks, not just removing the plants.