Police Injury Award Pensions

Dear Mr Jarman,

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am able to respond as follows:

1) How many former officers of the Metropolitan Police force are
currently in receipt of an injury award pension, as provided for in
the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 and the Police (Injury
Benefit) Regulations 2006?

There are currently 3,485 pensioners who receive an injury pension.

2) Do you operate a policy of reducing an injury award pension to
the lowest permissible band when the former officer reaches the age
of 65?

When Home Office Guidance was published in respect of this issue, the MPS looked in depth at the implications for both the service and the pensioners who were over the age of 65. The Management Board decision was to implement this policy but not retrospectively. Therefore anybody who has been awarded an injury pension since 1st April 2006 have been advised that their pension will be reviewed at the age of 65 and their injury pension reduced to the lowest band, unless there is a good cogent reason not to do so.

3) In the years 2004 to 2008 inclusive, how many former officers’
injury award pensions were reduced to the lowest banding upon the
former officer reaching the age of 65? (A total figure only is
requested, but I have no objection if you break the figures down by
year)

None.

4) In the years 1987 to 2003 inclusive, how many former officers’
injury award pensions were reduced to the lowest banding upon the
former officer reaching the age of 65? (A total figure only is
requested, but I have no objection if you break the figures down by
year)

None.

5) In the years 2004 to 2008 inclusive, how many formal complaints
have been made against the Commissioner and/or other officers of
ACPO rank in the Metropolitan Police force regarding matters in any
way connected with the administration of reviews of police injury
awards? (A total figure only is requested, but I have no objection
if you break the figures down by year)

There have been no formal complaints against the Commissioner or any member of ACPO rank. We have queries addressed to the Commissioner in respect of this process, we do not have figures on the number received, but this would be in the region of 7 per year.

I hope that this response answers your questions.

However, if you are unhappy with the decision regarding your request for information you should write to me at the above address. I will arrange for an officer who has not had any involvement with this request to review our decision. If you are still unhappy after that, a further request can be made to the Information Commissioner, who will decide whether the request was dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. Further information is available on the Information Commissioner's website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Peart
Information Officer

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