Hi folks,

I hope that 2019 is treating you well thus far.

In their centenary year NARPO (National Association of Retired Police Officers) is looking to strengthen its campaign for equality in widows/widowers/civil partners' pension rights under the 1987 Police Pension Regulations.

In common with our Police Widows' Pension Campaign their goal is to achieve parity with widows of former Northern Ireland Police officers who retain their pension even if they remarry or cohabit.

Dependant upon BREXIT developments - NARPO is hoping to hold a day of lobbying in parliament sometime in March 2019.

In order to present more compelling evidence to parliamentarians CEO Steve Edwards is looking for examples from amongst those who fall into any of the the following categories:

1. Remarriage or Cohabitation
* lost their pension on remarriage or cohabitation
* not remarried/cohabited because of the threat of losing their pension

2. Death on duty
Anyone whose spouse died on duty and:
* has retained their pension on remarriage
* has lost their pension on remarriage
* has not remarried /cohabited because of the threat of losing their pension

3. Service in Scotland or Northern Ireland
* Any widows whose husband retired from an English or Welsh Force but served in Northern Ireland or Scotland.
*Anyone who would have had their pension reinstated if their husband had served in Scotland.

If you feel that you are able to assist NARPO in this please get in touch with me in the first instance at the usual email address CathrynHall@outlook.com with an account of your personal story that you are happy to share. I will then forward your contribution on to Steve. 

Can you also say whether you will be able to attend NARPO's parliamentary event in March in order to lobby your MP and also include your mobile number with your email. 

It is great that NARPO are still prepared to keep fighting for parity with Northern Ireland despite the abiding obsession with BREXIT in Westminster, and we should of course do our utmost to support this event.

I must say that an event that I don't have to organise and an update that I didn't have to research was a real treat – thank you Steve and NARPO!

Best wishes as always,

Cathryn

CathrynHall@outlook.com