Legal expenses cover for members: policy updated

25 August 2021

The policy details of the legal expenses cover for West Midlands Federation members has been updated.

The West Midlands branch is the only one in the country to give members this cover as part of their Federation membership.

The off-duty legal scheme covers a wide range of situations where professional fees could be incurred and in almost all cases will be accessible by members not covered under other elements of the Federation package of protection.

“We felt it was important to have this cover in place,” says Steve Grange, secretary of West Midlands Police Federation, “While membership of the Federation gives officers the umbrella of a wide range of support, this extra legal cover has proved to be useful for situations that fall outside the general member benefits.”

Cover is available for the Federation member, their spouse or cohabiting partner, children, stepchildren, adopted and foster children and grandchildren normally resident with the member as well as parents and grandparents of the member and the member’s partner, again where normally resident with the member.

The member only cover includes:

Home rights

• Professional fees incurred:
  • In the pursuit or defence of legal proceedings following any event causing loss of or damage to the home.
  • In the pursuit of defence of legal proceedings as a result of or any cause of action arising out of or relating to alleged infringement of the beneficiary’s legal rights relating to the home.

Fund trustee defence

• In the defence of any civil legal proceedings against the beneficiary in respect of alleged act or omission as a trustee of a fund set up by the beneficiary’s employer.

Representation at public inquiries

• In respect of representation of a beneficiary at a public inquiry ordered by a district auditor.

Independent Office for Police Conduct

• Professional fees incurred by the beneficiary for representation by an appointed representative at an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Disciplinary hearings

• Professional fees:
  • Incurred in providing representation during an investigation where the beneficiary is subject to a Regulation 15 Notice.
  • In providing representation at a disciplinary hearing before the Misconduct Tribunal Panel or the Police Appeals Tribunal following a disciplinary procedure.

Bankruptcy advice

• Professional fees incurred where filing for bankruptcy is recommended as the most appropriate option by our debt advice specialist.

Wrongful arrest and imprisonment

• Professional fees incurred for advice and guidance where the beneficiary has been wrongfully arrested and imprisoned.

The member and partner cover includes:

Education

• Professional fees incurred in appealing against a decision of a Local Education Authority (LEA).

Probate

• Professional fees to pursue civil legal action in respect of a probate dispute involving the beneficiary’s parents, grandparents, or children.

Criminal Prosecution Debate

• Professional fees incurred:
  • In the defence of criminal legal proceeding brought against the beneficiary.
  • Overseas in providing emergency legal assistance or representing a beneficiary at a police station where they are being interviewed, in relation to an alleged criminal act.

Member and family cover includes:

Personal injury

• Professional fees incurred in the pursuit of legal proceedings to recover damages or compensation following any event causing death of or bodily injury to a beneficiary.

Clinical negligence

• Professional fees incurred in the pursuit of legal proceedings to recover damages or compensation following any medical, clinical or surgical event causing death of or bodily injury to a beneficiary.

Consumer protection

• Professional fees incurred in the pursuit or defence of legal proceedings as a result of any contractual dispute over £50.00 for obtaining services including insurance or the sale, purchase or hire purchase of any personal goods.

Taxation

• Professional fees arising from or relating to a full enquiry by HM Revenue & Customs of the beneficiary’s personal tax affairs.

Discrimination

• Professional fees incurred in the defence of civil legal proceedings brought against the beneficiary alleging discrimination related to sex, race, age, religion or disability at work.

Data protection

• Professional fees incurred in the defence of legal proceedings taken against the beneficiary for compensation relating to the way that they have kept or used personal information about another person or organisation.

Uninsured loss recovery and motor prosecution defence

• Professional fees incurred:
  • In the pursuit of legal proceedings to recover uninsured losses incurred because of a motor accident causing loss or damage to the vehicle.
  • In the defence of legal proceedings taken against the beneficiary arising from a breach of road traffic regulations relating to the vehicle.

Identity theft

• In the event of identity theft:
  • Professional fees and ancillary costs incurred to defend a claim from a financial institution, merchants or their collection agencies; for the removal of any criminal or civil judgements wrongly entered against the beneficiary; challenging the accuracy or completeness of any information in a Credit Reference Agency report; and to create documents needed to prove the beneficiary’s innocence in terms of any financial irregularities committed unlawfully.
  • Postal and phone costs the beneficiary has to pay in relation to those made about actual identity theft.
  • Fees charged for re-applying for a loan due to the original application being rejected because the lender received incorrect credit information
  • The beneficiary’s lost earnings because of time away from work to report or discuss actual identify theft.

Find out more in the policy document.