Good afternoon folks,

Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to Alison Mayle and Allison Charlton for sharing their experiences of the 1987 Police Pension Regulations. The ladies took part in a video that was shown at NARPO’s Annual Conference; I think you will agree with me that they did a fab job:

Scroll to 2hrs 20 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXmuWWJTBKU&t=15695s

For my part – I have been trying to work through and make sense of the unfolding drama that is UK politics; as the story changes seemingly from moment to moment it is always very tempting to give it up and watch a boxset instead! Rest assured I will never do that.

As we have the PM and Home Secretary acting as though a General Election has been declared - we must do the same.

I have mentioned before that I look for changes (no matter how small) in the responses we receive from the Policing Minister; of late I have been interested in the similarities between the Home Secretary’s comments and those of Mike Penning who was Policing Minister in the early days of our campaign:

In a letter dated 26th November 2014 Mr Penning said:

“…However, the special circumstances of military personnel, including the level of risk that they face and the disruption to family life, merit this change to the Armed Forces (scheme) - the Armed Forces Covenant supports this.

This alongside the risks faced by military personnel, present a unique set of circumstances which provides a justification for the move away in this specific instance from the Government’s general presumption against making retrospective changes…”

2nd December 2014 Mr Penning said:

“…You will be aware that the Prime Minister announced on 8th November that the rules in relation to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 and the War Widows Pensions Scheme will be changed to allow widows, widowers and surviving civil partners who qualify for a survivor pension after 1st April 2015 to retain their pension for life.

I have already described the Government’s general presumption against making this type of change to pensions. However, ministers must be able to exercise discretion where there are compelling and clear arguments, like those presented in respect of the special circumstances of military personnel and their families, supported by the Armed Forces Covenant. This alongside the risks faced military personnel, presents a unique set of circumstances which provides a justification for changing the rules in this specific instance. However, this does not change the Government’s presumption against making retrospective changes…”

As can be seen, Mr Penning cites the risks to armed forces personnel, disruption to family life and the support provided by the Armed Forces Covenant for the changes to the armed forces pension regulations.

In the Home Secretary’s recent speech to the Police Superintendents’ Association, there is a similar theme running throughout regarding police officers and ‘the police family’.

Most notably she wants to establish a Police Covenant, she cites the tragic death of Andrew Harper, she talks of officers running to the front line and the threats that they face, she wants to recognize the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of serving and former officers; and she wants to help those officers, and the friends and families behind them:

She said, “…So I want to open my own remarks by thanking you all for everything that you do and the challenges you confront on a daily basis.
…It’s important to show that the wounds of the past are brought to some closure and effectively that the police come first and from my perspective, you are my top priority.

And it’s more than that as well, because as your Home Secretary, I am your public champion. I am your public voice and advocate.

I am making it my mission to ensure the people that you serve get behind you. And I don’t intend to stop until the whole country shares my pride in our incredible police.

Because we owe you that much, because it’s pretty self-evident that what you all do is far from easy.

And we’ve seen that of late with the senseless, brutal and mindless killing of PC Andrew Harper that demonstrated that beyond doubt.

His life cruelly snatched away just weeks after his wedding as he responded to a call for help…

…No family should ever have to watch and wave a loved one off to work, worrying if they will ever come home.

But of course, in the policing world, this is the norm.

This happens far too much.

In the last year alone, there were over 30,000 assaults on police officers in England and Wales - up 18%.

As many as one in four serving officers were attacked.

…Many of you will have been hurt. Many of you will have seen friends and colleagues beaten and abused - all in the line of duty.

It takes extraordinary courage to keep running to the front line to face that threat, day in day out. But, for you, your sense of duty comes first.
You refuse to be cowed, and I refuse to leave you exposed.

We simply must do more to help those on the frontline, and the friends and family behind you.

…And also, to stand by you and address the personal and human impact of the incredible work that you all do.

In my 6 weeks as your Home Secretary I have been humbled by those I have met, the experiences that have been shared with me and naturally the values that are very unique to the police family.

That’s why I have personally accelerated work to establish the Police Covenant.

This is a pledge to do more as a nation to help those who serve our country.

…To recognise the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of serving and former officers.

Have no doubt, I am prepared to be bold to protect you – to care and value you. And I will not flinch from enshrining this new protection for the police in law if that’s what it takes.

So I can reveal today I plan to focus work on the Covenant in three areas where you need it most:

• your health and wellbeing;
• your physical protection; and
• support for your families.

First, I want to ensure you, and your officers, are fit and well – in mind and in body.

I’ve seen the constant risk of injury you face and the emotional pressure you’re under…

…We will learn from the Armed Forces Covenant to explore exactly how we can meet those needs.

…And of course, when it comes to the people that matter to us the most – our families - we must do more to support those torn apart when officers are hurt or killed in the line of duty.

We cannot heal their heartbreak, but we can do everything in our power to support them, stand with them, and show the huge value we place on their fallen loved ones.

I am urgently exploring what more we can do to support and help families when they need it most.

…I want to understand what it will take to make a difference – and then have a plan to deliver just that…

…Today I have set out plans of how I intend to change our relationship with the police and make this a partnership where we work together to keep people and communities safe.

I will support you, protect you, empower you to protect the public.

I will give you the ability to restore a sense of public pride in your profession, that recognises the sacrifices that you make each and every day.

My door is always open…”

You can read Ms Patel’s speech in its entirety by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretary-at-police-superintendents-association

I would suggest that the sentiments expressed, and observations recorded in Ms Patel’s speech - provide a justification for the Policing Minister to exercise his discretion and grant all police widows pensions for life - based upon her ‘clear and compelling arguments’ and those provided by our team members; and the very least we can do is write to her and point this out. It would be rude not to.

I think in short what we are asking “the public champion, public voice and advocate of the police family,” is how far she is prepared to go to support us – the widows of officers – those of us that have on so many occasions, ‘watched our loved one off to work, worrying if they will ever come home.’

Will she make good her promise to address the personal and human impact of the incredible work of our loved ones, by granting us parity with Northern Ireland and lifelong pensions for all police widows?

Is her door always as open to us - the most vulnerable members of the police family, as it is to those serving officers of the rank of Superintendent?

Contacts for Rt Hon Priti Patel MP for Witham are as follows:

Home Secretary, Home Office, 2, Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
withammp@parliament.uk

“If your enquiry relates to her role as Home Secretary and Home Office matters you will need to contact the Home Office directly via:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office or contact your own Member of Parliament.”

To book an appointment if you are a constituent:

“Surgeries are by appointment only. Email WithamMP@parliament.uk, phone 0207 219 3528 or write to Ms Patel at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.”

Witham Conservatives
Avenue Lodge
The Avenue
Witham
Essex
CM8 2DL

Twitter: @patel4witham

Do we have a constituent of the Home Secretary amongst our team? Letters from a constituent will have a greater chance of getting through, and face-to-face meetings are the most desirable way to communicate with members of the government.

Currently as parliament has been prorogued and party conference season is in full swing, there is no facility for questions to be laid down by our MPs, issues cannot be debated, and legislation cannot be passed.
However, emails and letters can still be sent and received.

This is a prime time to remind politicians that our campaign represents a group of 22,000 potential voters, NARPO has 91,000 members and our petition has 131,438 signatories to date. Not too shabby when you consider that in the last general election some constituencies were won or lost by just double figures.

Remember to stress that we are seeking parity with our RUC sisters in Northern Ireland and lifelong pensions for all police widows, irrespective of the timing and manner of the serving/retired officer’s death.

Please point out to the Home Secretary that:

All officers who serve - face the same level of risk and still they don the uniform, and all of the families that support them - face the same level of disruption to family life in one context or another.

And remind her of her words:

“No family should ever have to watch and wave a loved one off to work, worrying if they will ever come home…”

Home Secretary, you are right to acknowledge that this should not be the norm  – but for us it was and we did it anyway, and we would like to keep our pensions please.

I can be contacted at this address: CathrynHall11@gmail.com

Best wishes as always to our wonderful team,

Cathryn