INJURIES from slips in car parks, burns from boiling water and police officers bitten by their own dogs.
These are some of the incidents that have led to Notts Police paying out compensation for personal injury claims 43 times in five years.
They involve sums paid out to police officers and staff, ranging from £50 to £43,000.
The figures, which also show the force successfully refused 27 claims for compensation, came to light in a response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
One MP said the details were evidence a "compensation culture" had spread to the force.
The document, which lists 90 claims in total, some of which are ongoing or were unsuccessful, gives only brief details of each incident to avoid identifying the complainants.
Mark Spencer, Sherwood's Conservative MP, said he thought the figures were reflective of more people in society seeking compensation. "We are inundated with ambulance-chasing adverts on TV (for no-win no-fee services)," he said. "If you slip on ice while you are at home you are a dozy twit – if you do it at work all of a sudden it's someone else's fault."
But Phil Matthews, chairman of the Notts branch of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the claims would be no different to those experienced by other organisations.
He said: "If you went to any other organisation that employed about 4,000 people over a number of sites and asked them how many claims had they had, I think we could fair quite well."
He added: "This information does not give the details of what can be nasty, life-changing injuries. Our members should have the same rights as anyone in any other organisation."
Malcolm Turner, deputy head of police legal services in the East Midlands, said: "Most of us, if we were to trip over an object, are likely to experience no more than injury to our dignity. But an awkward fall during a struggle with an offender could lead to a life-altering injury."
He added: "Our claims history as a force doesn't differ much from other forces of a similar size.
"Claims are handled in-house and all are carefully scrutinised to ensure compensation is only paid in cases where that is appropriate and the amounts paid are in line with the guidance issued by the Judicial College."
He said the force reviewed outstanding claims every month, with checks made by the Deputy Chief Constable.
A spokeswoman for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, which has its head office in Nottingham, said: "Employees who have been injured at work are entitled to pursue fair redress to help them recover, and should never be criticised for doing so."
"A so-called 'frivolous' claim cannot succeed."
Paddy Tipping, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Notts, said: "The force need to take a firm but fair line on this.
"Police officers when they join know they are taking on a demanding and dangerous role and know getting injured is a real possibility.
"But at the same time if the force has been negligent we need to satisfy that and pay a fair degree of compensation."
