CHESHIRE Police has paid out £31,000 in damages to members of the public over the past year, only £3,000 more than it paid out to its own police officers.

The figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the money paid out to civilians for the year ending March 31, 2006, was under public liability insurance and civil claims.

That was paid to five people, one for a personal injury (a hip injury) and four payments for various combinations of misconduct by a public official, unlawful detention, unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and assault.

Damage payments to police officers during the same time span totalled £28,377.18. The force paid out £3,200 for a broken wrist, which was the result of a slip; £2,400 for an ankle injury sustained by a trip, £7,000 for a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained by a trip; £3,000 for a police dog bite and £12,777 for hearing damage.