NARPO are delighted to announce the launch of our their own annual NARPO Group Travel Scheme, exclusive to NARPO members, which comes into force on 1st May 2010. Whether you are off on holiday, or going away on business, our new exclusive NARPO Group Travel Insurance Scheme, with AXA PPP healthcare, will keep you well protected against the unforeseen.
Premiums for the year from 1st May 2010 - 30 April 2011
Single £80
Couple £115
Single Parent £115
Family £120
See the February 2010 edition of NARPO News and call 0800 330 8575 today for an application form.
Apologies absence of web site Feb 2010
On Wednesday morning (10th February 2010) the web site was unaccessible for several hours. This was due to a server setting issue which was quickly rectified by our hosts. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Benefits Advice - New Service
Following the announcement in the November edition of the NARPO News of the retirement of our Benefits Advice Consultant, Angela Maxwell, we have made alternative arrangements to provide members with this service. Angela’s last article appeared in the November edition of the magazine and her helpline continues to operate until 30 November 2009.
We have been in discussions with a company called ‘Wordshop’ and they have agreed to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Angela Maxwell. They will be providing articles on benefits for each quarterly magazine starting in February 2010.
We have also negotiated with them that they will provide a Benefits Information Service direct to members in a similar way to that provided in the past by Angela Maxwell. This new service with Wordshop will commence on 1st December 2009. Initially access to the Benefits Information Consultant will be by letter, fax or email although, in appropriate cases, the Consultant may telephone the member following receipt of the initial correspondence. I have included all the relevant required contact details below. Members should include in the correspondence that they are NARPO members.
A link to the details of this new service will appear on the ‘Home’ page of our website at www.narpo.org with a direct link to the Wordshop email address above. Full details of the service will also be published in the February 2010 edition of NARPO News.
Clint Elliott QPM
Chief Executive
Flood Damage - NWPBF - Lodges Update
As you will probably be aware from news reports, Cumbria hs suffered the worst weather for many years which has resulted in flooding to various parts of Cumbria. Unfortunately, the Benevolent Fund lodges situated at White Cross Bay, Windermere, Cumbria, have been affected as Lake Windermere broke its banks due to the torrential rain. White Cross Bay Leisure Park is currently closed and until the checks on site have been completed and the damage fully assessed we don’t know at this stage when the site will re-open. The lodges obviously suffered damage and until the insurance assessment has been completed we won’t know the full extent of the damage to our lodges.
As you can appreciate I am currently experiencing a high volume of calls but until I am in receipt of the full facts I can’t say how far ahead bookings will be cancelled. Can I ask that you please bear with me and as soon as any further information is available I will update the members. In the meantime no further bookings will be taken for the lodges and those who already have booking will be contacted personally.
PLEASE NOTE:- The South Lakeland Leisure Village, Carnforth site is totally unaffected and the bookings remain unchanged
Jackie Smithies
Secretary
North West Police Benevolent Fund
Flood Damage - NWPBF - Lodges
North West Police Benevolent Fund
Lodges at White Cross Bay, Windermere
You will be aware of the serious weather conditions Cumbria has been suffering and continues to suffer and you will have seen the flooding on the news reports. Lake Windermere is now somewhat larger and has has broken its banks virtually everywhere. Where our lodges are situated was once dry land but unfortunately they are now in Lake Windermere and we have suffered significant loss and servere damage to 5 out of 6 of our lodges. One lodge is situated on higher ground and so far is not too damaged at this stage; if there is any damage it will be to the underside of the lodge but the lodge itself should be fine.
I attended at the site yesterday to assess the damage and to make sure all our people had got out of the lodges safely. The last of our members was helped off the site at about noon and all accounted for are safe and well. The last of the vehicles was also removed which was a bonus as vehicles were also in the Lake.
The staff at the site were fanastic and took everything in their stride, Cumbria Constabulary attended the site on our behalf to check on our members at the height of the rains and Paul Kelly, who is clearly mad, went above and beyond his duties as caretaker helping other members of the public off the site who were clearly distressed.
It is a disaster area at the moment and we still have to ride the next influx of rains but the insurance company has been informed and the loss adjuster has already been allocated. Provisionally an appointment for the loss adjuster is arranged for Tuesday but he will not inspect our lodges if the water has not gone down so we will have to play this one by ear.
The site is obviously closed and I will have to upset many people now when I cancel their bookings and the knock on effect is that the Fund will suffer a serious financial loss which in the current climate could really do without.
Jackie Smithies
Secretary
NWPBF
State Pension increase 2010
November 2009
The basic state pension is to increase from April 2010 by 2.5%. For a single pensioner, the weekly pension will rise from £95.25 to £97.65, while a pensioner couple will see a rise to £156.16 from the current £152.30.
State and public sector pensions are both calculated with reference to September inflation figures and the rise comes despite the Retail Prices Index (RPI) being negative last month.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the RPI in September was -1.4%.
Other state benefits are linked in a similar method to another measure of inflation (the Rossi index) which is the RPI excluding housing costs. This is also negative so housing benefit, council tax benefit, incapacity benefit, job seekers’ allowance (JSA) and income support will all remain at the same rate from next April.
No rise in Police Pension 2010
November 2009
The Retail Price Index (RPI) for the month of September was - 1.4%. The RPI is the index that affects our Police Pensions from next April and is used by the NEC to set the levels of subscription to NARPO for the coming year, starting January 2010. Police Pensions will not be reflected by a negative figure -in other words there will be no rise in your Police Pension next year.
Care First to end - latest Narpo circular
Scarborough Conference 2009
The first motion at conference was whether or not the NEC should fund Care First for a further year before making a final decision on its future. Your Chairman spoke in favour of its retention but despite his valiant efforts conference voted to end the contract on the 31st October, 2009. National Narpo will be sending out details in due course. Whilst the indications were that the vote would be to end your committee were still extremely disappointed. We will now have to look at alternative options to strengthen our welfare support to you the members.
I have received the following email from the Police Federation and I am advised that letters will be sent out by Mouchel in the next few weeks detailing amounts due and any sums owing will be paid into bank accounts on 1st June 2009
Dear Colleagues,
The Home Office has now issued guidance to forces on the backdating of the new lump sum commutation factors, following the PFEW’s successful Judicial Review. A link to the guidance, which is on the Home Office website, is attached below:
The guidance will be issued as a numbered Home Office Circular shortly, but in the meantime has the status of a Home Office Circular. Any queries from retired members should be directed to their forces.
This morning the commutation Judicial Review decision was delivered at the High Court and I am very pleased to inform you that the application was successful.
Our solicitors are working through the full detail of the judgment and a JBB circular will be issued by the General Secretary by tomorrow morning. However, in the meantime, we wanted you to be aware of the decision so that you can inform your members at the earliest opportunity.
The Press Association at the High Court have called asking for a comment from us. Whilst this is clearly very good news and demonstrates that the Police Federation looks after members’ interests beyond their time spent in force, in the current economic climate and the inevitable spin the media would put on this news we have been measured in our response. Please see below the statement we have issued:
Responding to the news that the application for judicial review of commutation of police officers’ pensions has been successful, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales says:
“Last year we identified an irregularity concerning the commutation of police officers’ pensions which meant that some retired officers were not receiving what they are entitled to. We are pleased that today’s decision by the High Court will rectify that anomaly.”
Interested in being a committee member
March 2009
Hi All A number of our committee will be standing down at the AGM in May. All have given long and invaluable service to supporting the membership. If you are interested in becoming a member of the committee please contact the secretary as soon as possible. It is important that committee membership reflects the varying age groups, sex and location of our membership. Membership involves attendance at a meeting roughly every two months, having responsibility for a number of our over 80's and dealing with welfare issues.
Dave Anderton will provide you with full details
Please do think about it.
thank you
Malcolm Parry Chairman
Cenotaph Parade - 8th November 2009
June 2009
Members of the Branch who wish to take part in the Cenotaph Parade on Sunday 8 November 2009 should forward their names, with the details outlined in Branch Circular 18/09 (available by email from the secretary), to the Branch Secretary – secretary@narpo-merseyside.org.uk as soon as possible. Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
A further update on Commutation
April 2009
Pension Commutation – Judicial Review
Dear Colleagues,
We have been informed verbally by the Home Office that it will not be appealing the decision of the High Court relating to the Police Federation’s Judicial Review. As soon as we have this confirmation in writing, we will circulate a briefing to JBBs.
It is important to note that the mechanics of any additional commutation payment to which members may now be entitled will be administered locally, so any queries from members about payment should be directed to the force in the first instance.
The pension administrators Mouchel are now waiting for further information from the Home Office in order to calculate and make the additional payments to those pensioners affected by this backdating. Until this is received neither the Force nor Mouchel are able to give any further detail on the amounts payable or the timescales for payment.
National Police Memorial Day
July 2009
The National Police Memorial Day Service will be held on Sunday 27 September 2009 at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, commencing at 2.OOpm. Further information can be obtained from - www.nationalpolicememorialday.org
Tickets for the service can be obtained from the Deputy Co-ordinator, Ann Merkel, by telephone - 07843 293958 or by email at - www.nationalpolicememorialday.org
We have now added a guest book to the site. On our old site many of the messages were from fellow Narpo colleagues dotted across the globe. Why not let us know where you are, what you are doing or alike.
Thanks for visiting us
Commutation Factors latest update
December 2008
Commutation Factors
The Judicial Review of the commencement date of the new commutation factors was heard by the High Court on 17 December 2008. Although the evidence from both sides was heard in full, no judgement was made. The court did not indicate either when a judgement would be announced. This is not unusual in cases of this kind and no conclusions should be drawn from the court decision to reserve judgement. Further information will be published as it becomes available.
Queens Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals
December 2008
Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals
The question of entitlement to the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals is frequently raised, in particular, members enquire about the basis upon which these medals were awarded.
Briefly, the Silver Jubilee Medal was a limited award to nominated individuals serving during the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The Golden Jubilee Medal was awarded on broader criteria to all officers with a minimum of 5 years service and still serving at the date of the Golden Jubilee.
A current petition to the Prime Minister seeks to make both medals more widely available to current and former police officers and other members of the armed forces and emergency services. If members wish to support this petition, it can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/silvergold
There is also placed a direct link to the petition on the NARPO website at www.narpo.org - click on ‘Notices’ then on petition address to access petition.
Public Sector Pensions Overpayment
December 2008
Public Sector Pensions Overpayment
Recent questions in the House of Commons and attendant publicity has highlighted an issue of overpayment of pensions to retired public sector employees including those in the police scheme. This is a complicated issue.
In essence, the problem has to do with the Guaranteed Minimum Pension, its calculation, index linking and impact on the individual's Police Pension index linking.
Guaranteed Minimum Pensions were provided by public service pension schemes between 1978 and 1997. The problem will not affect any pensioner unless he or she is over State Pension age with service in this period and for whom the force have no record of a Guaranteed Minimum Pension.
It is estimated that between 1220 and 1830 (1% - 1.5%) police pensioners in England and Wales may be affected by this miscalculation. No overpayments are to be recovered but an adjustment will be made to the pensions of those affected in April 2009.
Further information will be circulated when it is received.
December 08 - New York Marathon 2009
Interested in running in the NEW YORK MARATHON 2009 for the Police Dependants Trust.
With effect from 1 January 2009 the Narpo subscriptions will be:
- Full Member - £1.41 per month (16.92 per annum)
·Widow/Widower Member – 53p per month (£6.36 per annum)
·Additional Member - £10.50 per annum
·Associate Member - £1.41 per month (16.92 per annum)
October 2008 - Launch of Care First Welfare Help Service
With effect from 1 November 2008, a 24/7 telephone line will be available to all NARPO members and their near families for the purpose of providing a welfare service.
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
A reunion of ex Cadets from the intakes between 1978 and 1981 will be held on Friday 2nd October 2009. Details of venue will be publilshed in due course. Please contact Dave Handley on 0151 777 4657 for further information.
Liverpool City Police D Division
This years reunion will be held on Friday 9th October, 2009. Further details will be sent in due course. Contact Charlie Wass
Liverpool City Police G Division
The reunion will be held on Thursday 15th October, 2009 at 1.30pm at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel. For contact details email: secretary@narpo-merseyside.org.uk
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, however, no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, concerning the content or accuracy of the information stored and maintained within this information service is made.
If you have any items for this page or for the newsletter please email the secretary
New Narpo Travel Insurance - February 2010
