CHAIR ANSWERS


FORCES’ RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOU’RE NOT


WORKING EXCESSIVE HOURS


Deputy National Chair Tiff Lynch responds to members’ questions around an update on the pension trap, industrial rights and working time regulations for officers around England and Wales


Is there an update on the pension trap? The most recent update we have clarifies the circumstances for officers amid the inception of the retrospective phase of the McCloud/Sargeant pensions remedy, commencing on October 1, 2023. For officers not imminently approaching retirement, those eligible for the remedy but not retiring in the next 18 months can anticipate receiving a Remediable Service Statement (RSS) within the subsequent 18 months. The RSS will intricately outline alterations to contributions, tax, and benefit accrual for service spanning April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2022 (the Remedy Period). Until retirement, officers will be considered members of their original pension scheme (legacy scheme) and will revert to that scheme. Upon retirement, they will be presented with the choice of receiving benefits from their original scheme or the 2015 Scheme for the Remedy Period. Annual Benefit Statements will, henceforth, illustrate both options for benefit accrual during the Remedy Period. For officers planning retirement within the next 12 months, concerns have arisen regarding estimated retirement quotes, and PFEW advises officers to dispute this position through their local Federation branch board. Additionally, officers are urged to initiate a formal complaint via the administrator’s Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP). If the issue persists, escalation to a more senior level or referral to the Pensions Ombudsman is recommended. Immediate retirees facing incomplete benefit payments are encouraged to follow a similar complaints procedure, specifically requesting interest for late payment. For officers who retired before October


1, 2023, and fall within the remedy scope, administrators aim to contact them before April 2025, offering a Remedial Service


22 | POLICE | FEBRUARY | 2024


Statement (RSS) illustrating the current, legacy, and reformed positions for the remedy period. Priority will be given to officers retiring due to ill-health, followed by survivors of bereaved officers and others, with a target completion date of 2024. Finally, officers wishing to apply for Contingent Decisions due to pension changes are advised to contact their pensions administrator, although the precise process details remain limited. There is optimism that guidance on Contingent Decisions will be issued to forces shortly.


PFEW has sought independent legal advice on the pension trap from two separate KCs, and we await the written advice from the second KC who was instructed. Once we have that the membership will be updated. Please visit our FAQs for further information: www.polfed.org/support/pensions


What is the difference between this industrial ballot and the previous one?


The decision to conduct this vote with the membership stems from the acknowledgment by PFEW that the existing framework for determining police officer pay and conditions is inadequate. This vote will seek the membership’s views on industrial rights for police officers, whereas the previous one was narrowed down to just exploring strike action. Concerns have continued to grow over the erosion of police pay and working conditions, coupled with the perceived inability of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) to act independently. This perception stems from various


aspects of the way the PRRB is set up and the way it works. The Government determines PRRB membership, with the Prime Minister appointing its Chair, and the Home Secretary setting the PRRB’s parameters. While contributors, including police staff associations, can provide evidence, we lack the right to negotiate. Furthermore, the PRRB’s


recommendations are non-binding on the Government, allowing it Government to


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