Dear Sir or Madam,

Freedom of Information Act request.

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.

Your assistance in this matter is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Ms N. McCall

Dear Ms McCall,

I acknowledge receipt of your correspondence received 30/01/2009 which is
being dealt with as a request for information in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am in the process of dealing with your request and will respond in due
course and in any case by 27/02/2009. Please contact us by e-mail at
[Cheshire Constabulary request email] if you have any further enquiries.

Regards,

Sarah L Davies
Freedom of Information Officer
Tel: 01244 616556
===================================
Cheshire Constabulary Headquarters
Clemonds Hey
Oakmere Road
Winsford
CW7 2UA
===================================

This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only.
Please notify the sender if received in error. Internet email
is not to be treated as a secure means of communication.
Cheshire Constabulary monitors all Internet and email activity
and requires it is used for official communications only. Thank
you for your co-operation.

Dear Ms McCall,

I refer to your recent request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 as set out below:

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.

In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is provided
below;

Cheshire Constabulary is in category A

There are no policy or procedure documents available

If I can be of any further assistance in this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with the decision applied in this case I enclose
for your attention a copy of the Constabulary's appeal procedures.

(See attached file: FOI Appeals procedures.doc)

Regards

John Gannon
Freedom of Information Officer
01244 614176

show quoted sections

Dear John Gannon,

Thank you for your response to my FOIA request.

Can I just get you to check your answer? I am asking for
information that illustrates the practices and policy in Cheshire
Constabulary BEFORE the Home Office issued its guidance in Circular
46/2004.

Other information I have to hand suggests that your force was,
prior to 2004, in the category identified in the Home Office
guidance I named as category B - not category A as in your
response.

Yours sincerely,

Ms. N. McCall

Dear Ms McCall,

As per your email below Cheshire Constabulary both pre and post circular
46/2004 were category A.

If you require any further assistance please do not hestiate to contact
me.

Regards

Sarah Davies
Freedom of Information Compliance Officer
01244 616556

"Ms. N. McCall" To [email address]
<[FOI #6846 email]> cc
Subject Re: Freedom of Information request - Police
28/02/2009 10:21 Injury Pensions Policy

Dear John Gannon,
Thank you for your response to my FOIA request.
Can I just get you to check your answer? I am asking for
information that illustrates the practices and policy in Cheshire
Constabulary BEFORE the Home Office issued its guidance in Circular
46/2004.

Other information I have to hand suggests that your force was,
prior to 2004, in the category identified in the Home Office
guidance I named as category B - not category A as in your
response.

Yours sincerely,
Ms. N. McCall

show quoted sections

Dear Sarah Davies,

Thank you for clarifying your response.

Can I ask you if Cheshire Constabulary has a written policy and/or
any procedures documents that illustrate how police injury award
pensions were managed and reviewed before 2004?

Yours sincerely,

Ms. N. McCall

Dear Ms McCall,

I acknowledge receipt of your correspondence received 03/03/2009 which is
being dealt with as a request for information in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am in the process of dealing with your request and will respond in due
course and in any case by 31/03/2009. Please contact us by e-mail at
[Cheshire Constabulary request email] if you have any further enquiries.

Regards,

Rachel Hulme
Administrative Assistant
Freedom of Information
Tel: 01244 615416
===================================
Cheshire Constabulary Headquarters
Clemonds Hey
Oakmere Road
Winsford
CW7 2UA
===================================

This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only.
Please notify the sender if received in error. Internet email
is not to be treated as a secure means of communication.
Cheshire Constabulary monitors all Internet and email activity
and requires it is used for official communications only. Thank
you for your co-operation.

Dear Ms McCall,

I refer to your recent request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 as set out below:

Can I ask you if Cheshire Constabulary has a written policy and/or any
procedures documents that illustrate how police injury award pensions were
managed and reviewed before 2004?

In accordance with section 1 (1) (b) of the Act our response is provided
below;

Cheshire Constabulary does not have a written policy, as Injury awards are
dealt with in line with existing pension legislation, therefore there are
no documents available.

If I can be of any further assistance in this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with the decision applied in this case I enclose
for your attention a copy of the Constabulary's appeal procedures.

Regards

Sarah Davies
Freedom of Information Compliance Officer
01244 616556

show quoted sections