§ 2. Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley)What plans he has to reduce the proportion of early retirements from the police. [53508]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alun Michael)Earlier this year, we published a consultation document on police pension arrangements, which highlighted the need for more efficient management of ill-health retirement. Work is in hand on detailed proposals and we shall support good management practice, with changes to the police pensions regulations where necessary. Any proposals will be published in good time to allow for full consultation with the interested parties.
§ Judy MallaberI am pleased that my hon. Friend is taking the issue seriously because, in Derbyshire constabulary last year, 65 per cent. of officers retiring did so on grounds of ill health. Has he seen the report on the Derbyshire constabulary published this month by Her Majesty's inspectorate? The constabulary is praised for having Investors in People accreditation and a Government charter mark, but attention is drawn to the problem of early retirement on medical and sickness grounds. Is my right hon. Friend aware that the inspectorate has previously expressed concern about underfunding of the Derbyshire police; and can he confirm that the Government will in future give the police adequate resources to enable them to play their part in tackling crime and to limit the stress on police officers?
§ Mr. MichaelMy hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the problem and to the need to control medical retirements, because the pensions being paid out of police resources mean a reduction in the resources available to that police force. The variations are extremely large: in 1996–97, 16 per cent. of all police retirements in Wiltshire were on medical grounds, whereas the figure in Merseyside was 77 per cent. Merseyside has reduced that figure by 23 per cent. in the intervening period, so it is clear that police forces can manage the problem and increase their own resources by doing so.
§ Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)Has the Home Secretary received any requests for early retirement 4 on the ground of stress from the police officers involved in arresting Senator Pinochet, as it appears that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had welcomed the gentleman to Britain through the VIP lounge but officers responsible to the Home Secretary were asked to arrest him?
§ Mr. MichaelThe answer to the substantive question is no.
§ Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East)Is my hon. Friend aware that, last week, the Greater Manchester police announced substantial reductions in its work force? Would he be prepared to enter into consultation with the force to make sure that my constituents are not affected by reductions in the work of the police?
§ Mr. MichaelIn recent years, the number of officers available for front-line policing has not kept pace with the number of officers available overall. We are encouraging police forces to use their resources—particularly the men and women who serve them—on the front line in the community rather than in support services. Each report of the inspectorate has demonstrated that there are still savings to be made which can improve the quality of the service to the public.
§ Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet)Does the Minister recognise that in the Metropolitan police force the problem is not only that too many officers are retiring early, but that too many are seeking transfer to other police authorities? Will he consider that problem when he reviews Metropolitan police pay and conditions of service?
§ Mr. MichaelThat is a complex issue for the Commissioner. Many people come from outside London to serve in the Metropolitan police and many officers later seek to transfer to other forces, so transfers work in both directions. For example, many serving at the highest levels in the Metropolitan police have spent time, perhaps at chief constable level, in another force. That is a management issue which needs to be treated with care.