ll Health Police Pensions

A police pension is one of the most important but least understood things to a police officer. The practicalities involved in being in the ill health pension process are perhaps the least understood of all. There has been a recent sharp increase in the amount of officers being referred or self referring for an ill health pension. This trend is directly related to the consequences of the current financial cutbacks.

Under the Police Pensions Regulations an officer may be required to retire on medical grounds if he or she is permanently disabled for the ordinary duties of a member of the force. Both Management and / or the Officer can refer at any stage of their career into what is known as the 'H1' process and this is where an outside independent 'Selected Medical Practitioner' is used in effect to make that decision.

Any of the following key capabilities would render an officer disabled for the ordinary duties:

• the ability to sit for reasonable periods, to write, read, use the telephone and to use (or learn to use) IT;

• the ability to run, walk reasonable distances, and stand for reasonable periods;

• the ability to make decisions and report situations to others;

• the ability to evaluate information and to record details;

• the ability to exercise reasonable physical force in restraint and retention in custody;

• the ability to understand, retain and explain facts and procedures.

Permanency is exactly what it says and in most cases there will be extensive medical evidence available both within the force, and with GP and hospital records to show permanency. I do believe that permanency is much easier to show in physical injury type conditions, and much harder to show in psychological conditions for a variety of reasons.

Usually the force will consider any available role for an officer before resorting to the H1 referral process.

I believe that is imperative that if you think you might enter the ill health process that you contact your federation rep to get advice. If you are unsuccessful in your referral your federation subs enable you to challenge any H1 decision.

The above is a little longer than I would normally write but the best I can say in this area is 'don't bury your head the sand and get some proper advice'.

More detail on ill health pensions and police pensions generally is contained in the below link.

http://www.lancashirepolfed.org.uk/what/pensions.htm

John Ainsworth
JBB Treasurer and Health & Safety Panel Secretary