2 March 2009

Ms. McCall

Your ref

Dear Ms McCall

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO:

F-2009-00200

I write in connection with your request, which was received by Lincolnshire Police on 2 February 2009 in which you seek access to the following information.

I am requesting certain documents that you may have detailing force

policy and procedure in the management and review of police injury

award pensions prior to the year 2004.

To help you in your search and to direct my enquiry as clearly as

possible I am quoting below a paragraph from Home Office Circular

46/2004, Annex C:

'This Guidance is being issued to help ensure a fairer, more

cohesive approach to the payment of injury benefits to ill-health

retired officers who have reached the compulsory retirement age

with their Force. A recent survey found that practice in this area

was diverse. Some forces automatically reduced degree of

disablement benefits to the lowest banding when this age had been

reached - others continued to pay benefits at the same rate until

the death of the Officer concerned.'

The above quote identifies two categories of forces - A) one group

that automatically reduced degree of disablement benefits to the

lowest banding when compulsory retirement age had been reached and a second group B) that continued to pay benefits at the same rate

until the death of the Officer concerned.

I am attempting to identify and obtain a copy of documents that

show which category ( A or B) your force would have been included

in prior to receipt of HOC 46/2004.

It may be that your response would be sufficient if you simply tell

me which group your force was in, but if there was a written policy

or procedural document setting out details, then I should like a

copy.

You can send copied documents in any standard digital format.

I confirm that Lincolnshire Police holds this information.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the information in full. Please find your copy of the information.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Lincolnshire Police.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact me on the above telephone number quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Mr C. Knowles

Force Data Protection Officer