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Chris Huhne takes Greg's police pensions campaign to the Home Secretary
October 6, 2009 11:42 PM
Originally published by Greg Stone
Originally published by Greg Stone
Newcastle East Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Greg Stone has welcomed moves by Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary to raise the issue of police pensions for officers forced to retire due to injuries sustained on duty with the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
Greg has been campaigning on this issue on behalf of retired Northumbria police officers in his constituency, and recently raised the matter with the Lib Dem leadership.
He said "I am pleased Chris Huhne has raised this matter with senior Government ministers. The ball is now in their court and we await a response."
....
Hero cops have injury pensions slashed says Chris Huhne
Tue, 06 Oct 2009
Thousands of police officers forced to retire after being injured in the line of duty face having their injury pensions cut back to minimum levels, research by the Liberal Democrats has found.
Previously, officers were allocated an additional sum each year to compensate them for the injuries they received, even when they reached retirement age. However, since Home Office guidance was issued in 2004, many forces have reassessed officers when they have reached retirement age and reduced their injury awards to the lowest possible level. The Government's recent response to a consultation on this subject suggests that this practice is about to become more widespread.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne has written to Alan Johnson to demand that he put an end to the practice of police injury pensions being changed retrospectively.
Commenting, Chris Huhne said:
"The thousands of police officers who have been injured in the line of duty are a reminder of what a dangerous and difficult job it can be.
"As a result of Home Office guidance, many have had their injury pensions slashed and even more are at risk after the Government endorsed the policy in a recent consultation.
"When ill health forced them to retire, they were promised that they would be compensated for the rest of their lives. It is unfair to move the goalposts now.
"There is an exact parallel with the military covenant, and it will prove just as embarrassing to the Home Office as it was to the Ministry of Defence.
"Hero cops who put their bodies on the line in the name of the public safety deserve to be more than just a victim of budget cuts.
"These brave men and women are now faced with a hefty drop in income once they reach retirement age and a very uncertain future as a result.
"This is another example of the Government breaking promises to those that choose to serve."
Copy of letter to Home Secretary here:
http://www.libdems.org.uk/siteFiles/resources/Word%20Docs/Police%20Injury%20Pensions%20Johnson%20Letter.doc
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