KINGSTON, Jamaica — Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte says that the Litigation Division of her office is having dialogue with the office of the commissioner of police on the issue of the huge cost to government for acts of omission by its servants.

The attorney general described the situation as a “worrying tale” in her presentation to the House of Representatives in the Sectoral Debate last Tuesday at Gordon House.

“An analysis of the settlements and judgment debts referred to the Ministry of Justice for payment in the fiscal year 2015/16, has revealed that approximately 46 per cent arose from police actions, which gave rise to claims for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault and battery, and claims for constitutional redress,” the attorney general said.

“Another 34 per cent arose from accident and personal injury claims. Medical negligence is another area of liability concern,” she explained.

She also added that, although the claims reflected only approximately six per cent of the matters referred to the Ministry of Justice for payment, the judgment debts are high and often involve US dollar elements.

She said that in terms of new claims filed against the Government for the period April, 2015 up to June 27, 2016, her department’s records reflected that 38 per cent related to false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and assault, while 29 per cent arose from accidents and personal injuries.

“These are telling statistics,” the attorney general told the House of Representatives.

She also stated that her office would be meeting with other clients involved in these claims, including the Ministry of Health.

Balford Henry