Pension Changes Would Be A “Catastrophic Kick In The Teeth”

Removing the tax-free lump sum from police officers’ pensions would be a “catastrophic kick in the teeth”, South Yorkshire Police Federation said.

Federation Chair Steve Kent said the move would be “another attack on the public sector pay, by stealth”.

It had been feared the Chancellor would cut the amount of savings officers could withdraw from their pension without paying anything to under £100,000.

Steve said he was being contacted about the issue “all the time” by officers concerned about losing out despite decades of public service.

He added the ramifications that would come from this decision would be “enormous” and warned of a “mass exodus” from policing.

Steve continued: “It’s not just senior officers- retiring PCs and sergeants would be affected by this. It would make a fundamental difference to people’s plans.

“Some people, for example, have worked their mortgage out so they can pay some of it off with a lump sum, which they wouldn’t be able to do.

“To do that would be a catastrophic kick in the teeth to police officers.”