NEWS:Police Pensions Hearing: 'Officers Being Hit Hard'

#1 Bakes

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Posted 03 December 2012 - 12:45 PM

Full debate should now be held in the House of Commons, says Home Affairs Committee chairman.A senior MP has said that he hopes his cross-party discussion on police pensions will act as a “curtain raiser” to the issue being debated in the House of Commons.

Speaking in Westminster Hall yesterday, November 28, Keith Vaz (pictured) told colleagues that changes to the retirement package would have a detrimental effect on the well-being of officers, their families and the public at large.

He told MPs that it would be “unfair and unjust to mandate officers to serve until 60” – and said many were worried about their future prospects.

As previously reported on PoliceOracle.com, the government has already made it clear that from 2015 a new “career average” scheme will replace the current final salary scheme and a new normal pension age of 60 will be introduced. Average member contributions will increase to 13.7 per cent.

The Home Office said there will be no change in pension age or amount received at current pension age for those who, at April 1 this year, were aged 45 or over – or are members of the 1987 Police Pension Scheme and aged 38 or over and 10 years or less away from being able to retire with a maximum 30 year pension.

Labour MP Mr Vaz, who also chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee, said he was concerned that proposed changes to pensions would deliver a further body blow to morale.

He pointed out that statistics compiled for Lord Stevens’ Independent Review of Policing showed that 95 per cent of officers did not feel supported by government, and well over half had considered calling time on their careers.

Mr Vaz also highlighted that the current law enforcement reform programme – which he described as the most radical in history – included changes to governance, the creation of a College of Policing and the new National Crime Agency.

He said the success of change would depend on the current generation of officers.

Mr Vaz added: “We have to recognise the unique role and responsibility they have.

“Many are extremely anxious – I have (recently) received 120 emails and calls from officers and not one agrees with what the government has suggested.”

Mr Vaz told colleagues that an e-petition on pensions, launched last year by Suffolk sergeant Nigel Tompsett, had attracted more than 100,000 signatures. This could make it eligible for a debate in the Commons, if it can find a sponsoring MP and it is taken forward by a backbench committee.

He said that action was now needed, and urged government to back up the “fine words” it used when officers put their lives on the line to protect communities.

Mr Vaz told colleagues during the discussion: “This debate is not an alternative to one on the floor of the House, but I hope that it is a curtain raiser.”

In his response Damian Green, Minster for Policing and Criminal Justice, said that the independent Hutton Report had concluded that changes to public sector pensions were needed.

He added that the government had consulted – and would continue to listen – to policing groups, and that officers’ pensions remained among the best on offer.

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#2 Kraxein

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Posted 05 December 2012 - 07:13 PM

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