Pc who tripped on kerb at break-in site to press on with legal action

A spokesman for the Police Federation, which is funding Pc Kelly Jones’s legal costs, insisted she planned to continue the claim against the owner of Nuns’ Bridges Filling Station in Thetford, Norfolk, even though her father, Danny Harle, said she was to drop it after being upset at the strong reaction it has prompted.

Mr Harle, 58, told the Daily Mirror she felt she had been “persecuted”.

He added: “All she did was follow standard police procedure. There was never any mention of figures. She was expecting a couple of grand, not £500,000.

“Kelly wants to drop the claim to prove she’s not a money-grabber, not because she feels she’s done anything wrong.”

Lawyers claim garage owner Steve Jones, 50, was at fault for failing to ensure the police officer was “reasonably safe”, making no attempt to light the area or warn her about the step when she 
went to the incident in August last year.

On Monday Chief Constable Phil Gormley spoke of his “disappointment” over the matter.

Mr Gormley said: “This type of claim does not represent the approach and attitude of the overwhelming majority of our staff who understand and accept the risks inherent in policing and which they willingly confront to keep the public they serve safe.

“It is a disappointment that this is potentially undermined by a private compensation claim.”

A Norfolk Constabulary spokesman said on Monday: “This legal action is not supported by the Constabulary, our understanding being that the action is funded and supported by the Police Federation, a position over which the Constabulary has no control.”