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 Prince’s Trust - Volunteers required
Prince’s Trust - Volunteers required
click here for details
Consumer Price Index - Pension Increases
Consumer Price Index – September 2011
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of September was 2.2%. Since the announcement in the Emergency Budget on 22nd June 2010, the CPI is now the index that will affect our Police Pensions . Police Pensions were previously linked to increases in the Retail Price Index (RPI) which stood at 2.6% in September.
Retired Police Officers Political Party
May 2012
A group has been formed on Facebook called, 'Retired Police Officers Political Party'. Complaints have been received from Narpo members that they have been automatically registered with this group without their permission and were concerned that the Merseyside Branch may have disclosed personal details to this 'group'.
Please note that the Merseyside Branch of Narpo is not associated with this group and that the Branch would not disclose any personal information, including postal addresses and email addresses, to any third party without seeking permission.
If you have been registered on the 'Retired Police Officers Political Party' group and wish to be removed, please send an email to admin@merseysidenarpo.com for advice on how to remove your details from a Facebook Group.
This is a group of retired officers wishing to support their serving colleagues and is NOT associated to Narpo or any of its branches.
Latest NWPBF newsletter
Read the latest news from NWPBF
Court of Appeal rejects union CPI challenge
March 2012
Court of Appeal rejects union CPI challenge
Six public sector trade unions have had a bid to reverse the Government’s decision to switch pensions’ indexation from RPI to CPI rejected by the Court of Appeal. The unions launched the legal challenge after the change to CPI indexation, which tends to be lower than RPI, was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the 2010 Budget.
The judicial review began in October last year, with the unions arguing that the move was not permitted under social security legislation and reneged on commitments from previous Government’s that RPI would apply.
The High Court delivered a majority verdict in favour of the Government in December 2011, leading to an appeal from the unions. The Court of Appeal has today ruled that the Government was entitled to make the change.
Public & Private Pension Increases - change from RPI to CPI
29th February 2012
Public & Private Pension Increases - change from RPI to CPI
The e-petition 'Public & Private Pension Increases - change from RPI to CPI' has reached 100,000 signatures. The Government has notified the Backbench Business Committee in the House of Commons who will consider its suitability for debate when Parliament returns in September. This e-petition will remain live, and people will be able to continue adding their signatures.
The Backbench Business Committee has announced that a debate relating to this e-petition will take place on Thursday 1 March 2012 in the Chamber of the House of Commons. Further information about the debate, and on the workings of the Backbench Business Committee, can be found on the Committee's website at http://www.parliament.uk/bbcom
The Government will post a further response to this petition following the debate.
David Anderton
Secretary
RPI/CPI Judicial Review outcome
RPI/CPI Judicial Review outcome
Yesterday the High Court handed down its judgement on our application (with other trade unions) for judicial review regarding the change from RPI to CPI to protect pensions against inflation. The judges dismissed the application: ‘The use of RPI has in the past been merely current practice. Looked at objectively it could not properly be asserted therefore that any promise of its continued use had to be assumed’. However, on the second of the four main grounds argued, one of the three judges dissented from the view of his two colleagues.
In the initial view of our lawyers, the judgement is faulty in a number of important respects and permission was given by the judges to appeal to the Court of Appeal on some of the issues raised.
Clint Elliott, Chief Executive at NARPO said: ‘We brought this case on behalf of our members and we are extremely disappointed at this decision. Particularly at a time when the Government’s Office for Budget Responsibility says that on average the gap between the RPI and CPI is likely to increase to 1.4 percentage points a year effectively reducing the value of police pensions even further.’
What to do after a death
What to do after a death We have received a number of requests about reporting the death of a member and other surrounding issues associated with what to do after a death. In the case of the death of a member of the branch the next of kin should contact our secretary by email secretary@narpo-merseyside.org.uk as soons as possible and he will ensure all the relevant people are informed. This would include referral to the Funeral Society if the deceased had been a member.
The link below may prove helpful in other aspects arising from a death.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/WhatToDoAfterADeath/index.htm
Step back in time
Merseyside Police and Liverpool John Moores University have taken a step back in time, to trace the Force's history.
The BA (Hons) History of Art and Museum students, working with the Force's Records Management Team have traced the Force's history back to 1836, looking at themes including, policing during the blitz, the mounted and dog section, women in policing and the general history of Merseyside Police.
The project formed part of the student's coursework and the findings, which include photographs, graphics and documents from policing the different eras, are on display at Merseyside Police HQ and can be viewed by the public on the Merseyside Police website.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Jon Murphy said: "I joined Merseyside Police in 1975 and I find the history of the Force fascinating. My father was a Liverpool City Police Officer having joined in 1949. I have always felt that headquarters, unlike others I have visited, lacked any sense of the Force’s rich history, an important place in the social fabric of Merseyside. I think these social history boards are a great way of sharing this history and they certainly show how policing has progressed over the years.
"I'd like to thank the students and staff involved in the project, I'm sure their findings will be enjoyed by all."
Dr Emma Roberts, Course Leader said: "It was wonderful to be presented with the opportunity for my students to work with Merseyside Police. As a result, the students polished their skills in research, writing, information technology, teamwork, project management and design. The students were fascinated by the history of Merseyside Police and to see the important ways in which it has worked for the community. Nothing can replace the benefit of the vibrant learning that occurs when working on a live project with real outcomes, and I am most grateful to Merseyside Police for offering this project."
Editors Note:
Merseyside Police was formed in 1974 following the formation of Merseyside County Council. It included the constituent forces from Liverpool City Police, Bootle County Borough Police, Birkenhead and Wallasey (part of Cheshire Constabulary), Southport and St Helens (part of Lancashire Police).
Photograph Shows (l to r) - LJMU students Emma Marsh and Anna Newall, Chief Constable Jon Murphy and LJMU student Linda Jones.
NWPBF - St Michaels Lodge - visit by committee members
Recently some of the branch committee went on a tour of the Lodge to see the facilities available to members. St.Michael's Lodge is the North West Police Benevolent Funds brand new facility situated in the beautiful Ribble Valley in Langho (near Clitheroe), Lancashire. It is a small and friendly hotel which is available for use by members of the North West Police Benevolent Fund for short breaks.
It is a wonderful place so if you are thinking of visiting the area and are looking for somewhere to stay then do consider the Lodge. The rooms are all ensuite. Have a look at the web site for more details: http://www.nwpbf.org/stmichaels.htm
Lobbying of MP's - Police Cuts
As part of the campaign strategy that is continuing to roll out, the Federation website now contains a lobbying tool which enables members to email their MPs directly.
This is the link which we encourage you to forward to all your members:
The first campaign focuses on supporting Early Day Motion No. 1604, the tabling of which was secured following contact that West Mids JBB had with one of their MPs.
It works by first entering a postcode. The user is then taken through to an area where they will see the template email that has been automatically produced and addressed to the appropriate MP for that postcode. The user can then simply enter their details and send it off or they can choose to change the wording if they so wish.
Pensioners would need to alter serving to pensioner.
PNB Challenges Pensions Move
PNB Challenges Pensions Move
A government decision to change the way public sector pensions are up-rated will be challenged by the police, the Staff Side of the PNB has confirmed.
The organisation has confirmed that a judicial review will be launched this Monday in the wake of a move by the Work and Pensions Secretary and the Treasury.
It is claimed that the government's decision to switch from the Retail Price Index to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) when up-rating pensions effectively amounts to a downgrade.
The PNB Staff Side claims that an up-rating of only 3.1 percent using the CPI, compared to a potential rise of 4.6 per cent according to the RPI, will have a cumulative downward impact on public sector pensions in coming years.
The National Association of Retired Police Officers, the GMB, FDA, and Prospect unions as well as the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance are also involved in the action.
Speaking for the police parties involved, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board, promised a "robust challenge".
He added: "In the space of a few weeks this government has published reports that seek to take money and allowances from police officers as well as the prospect of increased contributions and having to work longer to qualify for a police pension.
"On top of that they are effectively picking the pockets of police through this change. We will challenge this robustly and through application for judicial review will seek to expose the government's underhand approach and right this wrong."
David Anderton
Secretary
The Budget and Police Pensions
THE BUDGET AND POLICE PENSION INCREASES
As a result of numerous enquiries following the Chancellor’s Emergency Budget last week NARPO HQ thought it prudent to update you on our current understanding of the implications of the budget on Police Pension increases.
Police Pensions are increased under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 and Section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975. The latter provides for public service pensions to be up-rated at the same time and by the same percentage as the increase in the additional pension provided under the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS), which has traditionally been based on the September to September increase in the Retail Price Index (RPI).
In the Emergency Budget the Chancellor announced that the Government will use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the indexation of benefits and tax credits from April 2011, but more significantly for police pensioners, the Chancellor also announced that the change would also apply to public service pensions through the statutory link to the indexation of the Second State Pension (which replaced SERPS in 2002).
What does this mean to police pensions?
In our view this means that in April 2011 police pensions will increase by the same percentage as the RPI increase from September 2009 to September 2010.
Thereafter the indication from this budget is that police pensions will increase annually in April by the same percentage as the CPI increase from September to September.
This in real terms reduces the value of police pension increases as the RPI is generally higher than the CPI and when calculated over a period of over 20 years would amount to a significant amount of money.
We are currently discussing with other public sector pensioner organisations the full implications of the emergency budget and are considering a response and any future course of action we may consider taking, bearing in mind the assurances given in April 2010 by all three major political parties, that there were no plans to change the current index-linking of pensions in payment.
UPDATE
Following further consultation it would appear that the police pension increases will revert to the CPI in April 2011 which means that the increase payable in 2011 will be linked to the CPI and not the RPI. The circulation ‘THE BUDGET AND POLICE PENSION INCREASES’ has been amended accordingly.
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Items of Interest
Merseyside Police Band
The below music was recorded at Fairfield and is entitled MERSEYSIDE POLICE BAND, under the direction of Captain Pottle MBE, LRAM, RM (Retired)and the vocalist is..Tom Cowan.
The band consisted of Sgt. M Brownbill, Sgt Bonell, Con. Ward, Con Jarvis, Con Bailey, Con Gardener, Con Clarkson, Con Garton, Con Jones, Con Hurley, Con Morgan, Con Walpole, Con Pearson, Con Hewitt, Con Corbett, Con Smith, Con Fleming, Con Jackson, Con Peters, Con Morris, Con Mathews, Con Cain
To hear click on a clip below:
Clip one Clip Two Clip Three Clip Four
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Events
Merseyside Police Comrades Association
Forthcoming events
2013
Coach Trip to National Aboretum Stafford - Thursday 12th September
Turkey and Tinsel Weekend - Friday 15th to Monday 18th November
Annual Lunch - Friday 22nd November - Riversdale
Pensioners Party - Thursday 12th December - Riversdale
2014
Pensioners Party - Wednesday 9th April - Riversdale
Coach Trip to Ludlow and Iron Bridge - Wednesday, 7th May
Annual General Meeting - Monday 12th May Riversdale
T Division reunion
The next reunion will be held at Riversdale Police Club on Wednesday 15th May 2013 at 12.30pm Email: Geoff Nelson
Mather Avenue Police Club Reunion
Starting at 3pm on Sunday 25th August 2013 at the Police Club Riversdale. Families of members. staff and friends of the Mather Avn Police Club will be most welcome to come along. Food will be provided at a cost of about £3 to £5. Further information from: kenwagner@hotmail.co.uk
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