Greg Stone

Lib Dem spokesman challenges Northumbria Police Authority over "callous" stance on disability pensions

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has today written to the chairman of the Labour-controlled Northumbria Police Authority asking him to justify the authority's decision to issue legally threatening letters to retired police officers seeking to appeal the decision to reduce their disability pensions awarded after suffering injury in the line of duty.

Many retired Northumbria officers have seen their pensions significantly reduced after Northumbria Police became the only force in the North East to implement Home Office guidance advising review of pension entitlements.

To make matters worse, pensioners who have sought to appeal against this decision on medical grounds have been sent legally threatening letters by the Force's principal solicitor. These letters describe their appeals as "frivolous", apparently without any legal basis, and warn that the police authority will recommend that applicants are made liable for the costs of any unsuccessful appeal - estimated at £7000.

The National Association of Retired Police Officers has described Northumbria's position as "a clear attempt to intimidate members and dissuades them from their right to appeal. This is by far the worst example we have seen of this type of intimidation and is a clear example of the Northumbria Police desire to save money by targeting the weakest with no consideration of what they gave to society during their police service".

Greg Stone said "I find the attitude of Northumbria Police to be quite shocking. Most other forces have adopted a pragmatic approach to this guidance. Northumbria is the only force in the region to have cut disability pensions for over 65s, and is adding insult to injury by threatening to pursue those wish to appeal for costs. I have written to the chair of the Police Authority Cllr Mick Henry expressing grave concern at their stance and calling on him to publicly justify the authority's position on this matter."

"I believe the current situation is little short of scandalous. It is extraordinary that the police authority should be seeking to penalise retired officers injured on duty, some very seriously. Many people will be aghast that the force is acting in this callous way, and I call on them to adopt a more conciliatory approach to this issue to prevent any further injustice".

[Letter attached]

Cllr Mick Henry

Chair, Northumbria Police Authority

Civic Centre

Gateshead

Tyne & Wear

NE8 1HH

17th July 2009

Dear Mick,

Police Injury Pensions, Home Office Circular 46/2004

You may recall I recently wrote to you with regard to my concerns over Northumbria Police Authority's implementation of Home Office Circular 46/2004, which has had the effect of significantly reducing the injury pensions of many officers aged over 65, leading to a significant reduction in their income.

As previously noted, many other forces including Durham and Cleveland have not taken such a hardline position on this issue. Both retired officers and members of the public are gravely concerned about the arbitrary and callous position of Northumbria Police Authority in respect of this matter. In my opinion it is extraordinary to treat those who have sustained injuries on active service in this manner.

I am very concerned to learn from affected officers that the Authority's Principal Solicitor has written to those individuals seeking to exercise their right to a medical appeal of the decision to downgrade their entitlement that he considers their applications "frivolous" and threatens them with Medical Appeal Tribunal bills of £6200 + VAT. I believe that the letters sent by Mr Wirz could be considered as prejudicial and legally contestable, given his arbitrary and subjective definition of "frivolous".

I should like to formally request a copy of the guidance cited by Mr Wirz in support of his claim in respect of ordering unsuccessful claimaints to pay Appeal Hearing fees.

I further note that the comments of the President of the National Association of Retired Police Officers as follows

"We have seen the letter being sent to our members from the Northumbria Force solicitor. It is in our view a clear attempt to intimidate our members and dissuades them from their right to appeal. This is by far the worst example we have seen of this type of intimidation and is another clear example of the Northumbria Police desire to save money by targeting the weakest and with no consideration of what they gave to society during their police service. Current officers should be concerned at this total lack of sympathy by the force of those injured protecting the public".

On behalf of my constituent and others who have been affected, I should like to invite you to take the following steps:

i) to make a public statement justifying the Authority's position on this matter

ii) to give undertakings that the policy will be reviewed forthwith

iii) to give undertakings that the Authority will refrain from describing appeal applications as "frivolous"

iv) to relax the Authority's position in respect of making submissions to the medical appeal tribunal that applicants should be ordered to pay fees except where absolutely justified.

In the circumstances I feel obliged to ask for a personal response from yourself, rather than a response from officers.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Greg Stone