Flea Circus

The West Midlands Police Force is the subject of public scorn and ridicule after paying out £900,000 of public money - in compensation claims from staff  'injured' in the line of duty.

Newspaper reports confirmed that most of the claims relate to police officers and support staff tripping over at work or suffering from dog bites - with the highest claims reaching £22,000 and £16,000.

But some of the individual claims seem too silly words - especially at a time when some  people argue that every public pound is well spent, for example:

A police officer bitten by a flea was paid £8,000 in compensation - would you believe?

Another received £1,000 because of insect bites

While a colleague was paid £14,000 after falling from a bicycle.

Not to be confused with the member of staff awarded £7,000 for injuries suffered - as the result of falling off a chair.

Now some of these stories sound completely ridiculous, as if they're made up or at least exaggerated and taken out of context.

A bit like the crazy tabloid stories of the European Union introducing new rules - outlawing the sale of anything other than straight bananas.

But I fail to see the lack of context in someone being awarded £8,000 in compensation for being bitten by a flea - either it's a fact or it's not.

And if it is true, then no amount of explaining would convince me that the West Midlands Police Force - is not presiding over a farce.