Date Posted: 28-Apr-2005

Prepare for retirement

Officers retire after approximately 30 years’ service. All forces provide courses lasting two to four days to help officers prepare for their retirement. These are offered to officers one to two years prior to their retirement date.

Financial advice is often included in the course. For officers intending to continue working after retirement, advice is also given on job applications.

Police Pensions

The police pension scheme Currently police officers retire after 30 years’ service on a pension that is equivalent to two-thirds of their final salary. Officers who have served less than 30 years, but at least 25 years, get an ordinary pension of 30/60ths of final pay, plus 1/60 th for each completed six months of service above the 20 years, payable from the age of 50.

Officers contribute 11 per cent of their salary to the police pension scheme. If an officer dies, 33 per cent of the salary goes to their surviving spouse.

The new police pension scheme From April 2006, the police pension scheme is set to change for new entrants to the service. Current officers will also have the option of joining the new scheme or remaining in the old one.

Officers will have to serve 35 years before they receive a full pension of half their final salary, plus a lump sum of four times their pension.

The minimum age before an officer can draw their pension will be 55 years. Unlike the current pension, life-long survivor benefits are available, which means if you die and your partner remarries or co-habits with a new partner they will continue to draw 25 per cent of their deceased partner’s pension.

This also refers to same-sex partners. A lump sum death-in-service payment is also available, which is three times pensionable pay. Officers will contribute nine or 9.5 per cent of their salary to the scheme.

Organisations for retired officers

NARPO is a UK-based, rank-free association of retired police officers dedicated to improving benefits for all members. Visit: www.narpo.org.uk

EPIC was set up in 1980 by a small group of ex-police officers working in the security industry. It now has nearly 400 members who have served with forces throughout the UK. Visit: www.epic-uk.com

Its aim is to keep those involved in private security up-to-date and informed. Members must have worked for either a Home Office or Scottish force, or the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Royal Ulster Constabulary (PSNI/RUC).

They must also work in the private security industry after having completed at least 25 years’ service. Those who have retired on a medical pension are also eligible to join.