Police Injury Award Pensions

Dear Mr Jarman,

I refer to your email of 2 January 2009 in which you asked for information
under the Freedom of Information Act. For ease of reference your request
is copied below:

"1) How many former officers of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary 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?…

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?

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)

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)

You have my permission to forward all or any part of this message to
any other person or organisation that can assist with this request.

I understand that under the FOI Act, I should be entitled to a
response within 20 working days. I look forward to hearing from you in the
near future."

The administration of police pensions is delegated by the Police Authority
to the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary and, with your
permission, I have obtained the information set out below from the
Constabulary's Human Resources department.

1) ANSWER: Total former officers in receipt of Injury Award Pensions - 194

2) ANSWER: Extract from the relevant procedure:

"Review on reaching State Retirement Age

Retired Officers in receipt of an injury award are no longer entitled
to the same payment once they reach age 65 as the award is to
compensate for loss of earnings, rather than the actual injury
itself.

At age 65 it is normally expected that a former officer will become
economically inactive. At the point at which an officer in receipt
of an award reaches age 65, Cambridgeshire Constabulary will advise
the SMP to reduce the degree of disablement to band 1 unless there
are exceptional circumstances. Please see appendix 5.

Exceptional cogent reasons for not reducing the Injury Award to Band
1 can be submitted to the Police Authority in writing by the retired
officer.

Cogent reasons will be considered by a panel made up of three members
of the Police Authority, a Human Resources Manager and a
representative of the Occupational Health Unit. The panel have full
working knowledge and experience of Police Pension Regulations and
are qualified to consider any cogent reasons put forward. A decision
based on the panel’s findings will be communicated to the retired
officer within one week of the panel meeting."

3) ANSWER:
2004 - 0
2005 - 0
2006 - 0
2007 - 0
2008 - 0

4) ANSWER:
1987 - 0
1988 - 0
1989 - 0
1990 - 0
1991 - 0
1992 - 0
1993 - 0
1994 - 0
1995 - 0
1996 - 0
1997 - 0
1998 - 0
1999 - 0
2000 - 0
2001 - 0
2002 - 0
2003 - 0

Yours Sincerely,

RE Toland
Policy and Performance Manager
Cambridgeshire Police Authority
Hinchingbrooke Park
Huntingdon
PE29 6NP
Tel: 01480 425999
Fax: 01480 425748
[mobile number]
Mobex: 7111033

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