THE Government needs to justify why the police officer pension contribution rate \u2013 scheduled to jump to 14.25 per cent in April – needs to be so high, the chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
The Home Office\u2019s plan to once again raise police officer contributions \u201craises serious questions of fairness and affordability\u201d, the Police Federation of England and Wales has warned.<\/p>\n
Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: \u201cIt is more than what was proposed three years ago \u2013 which is out of order. The police already pay far too much into their pensions, compared to other occupations. It is just another attack on our living standards and pay and conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ian Rennie, general secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales, labelled the proposed changes as \u201can unjustifiable, arbitrary levy on our members\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Policing Minister Damian Green, Mr Rennie said combining these changes with higher officer pension contributions \u201cmay well mean that members cannot additionally afford the revised contribution rates.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIf this is the case, members\u2019 only option will be to opt out of their pension scheme. This could have serious implications for the financial viability of the police pension schemes.\u201d<\/p>\n
In April last year the majority of English and Welsh officers on the 30-year Police Pension Scheme endured a 1.25 per cent rise to their monthly contributions, up to 13.5 per cent. Under the new proposals, this will increase to 14.25 per cent on April 1.<\/p>\n
When pension increases were originally outlined by the Government in 2011, police officer contributions were only mean to rise to 14.2 per cent this year.<\/p>\n
Officers on the 35-year New Police Pension Scheme (NPPS) faced a one per cent increase to a contribution rate of 11.5 per cent in 2013. That is now scheduled to jump to 12.05 per cent in 2014.<\/p>\n
Exact increases depend on which of the two schemes officers are in and on their basic annual salary.<\/p>\n
Although discussions have taken place about pension changes through the Police Negotiating Board officers have no negotiating rights on their pensions.<\/p>\n
A new police pension scheme \u2013 which will see officers having to work longer before claiming their pensions for a smaller return \u2013 is scheduled to be introduced to the service in 2015.<\/p>\n
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