How much Victoria Police has paid out in legal settlements over the past five years

Victoria Police has paid more than $42 million in civil settlements and legal costs in the past five years, The Age reports.

The blowout in financial settlements has renewed calls for an independent police oversight body.

The mammoth figure is believed to include a more than $11 million settlement with a man paralysed from the neck down when he was allegedly put in a headlock during his arrest.

However, police have not officially provided any details about the specific cases because most settlements contain confidentiality clauses.

Last week, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton told Neil Mitchell the force doesn’t have a huge amount of litigation, but confidentiality clauses are often requested by the plaintiff.

Victoria Police faces questions over ‘secret’ details in compensation settlements