§ Mr. Sternasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of cases in the last five years of which he is aware in which disciplinary proceedings against a serving police officer led, wholly or partially, to the deprivation of pension rights.
§ Mr. Giles ShawPower to require the forfeiture of pension rights is not available in disciplinary proceedings, but arises from the Police Pensions Regulations 1973, as amended. Outside the Metropolitan police, forfeiture of pension is at the discretion of the police authority, and there are no central records of the number of occasions on which the power has been used. However, except in cases468W of treason, or of offences under the Official Secrets Act involving a sentence of 10 years imprisonment or more, the police authority may not award forfeiture of pension unless a certificate has been issued by the Secretary of State to the effect that the offence committed in connection with the person's service as a member of a police force has either been gravely injurious to the interests of the state, or was liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service. The number of such certificates issued in the past five years is as follows:
Number 1981 — 1982 — 1983 2 1984 — 1985 1 In the Metropolitan police area the Secretary of State, as police authority, determines the extent as well as the principle of forfeiture. The number of awards of forfeiture of pension, in whole or in part, in the past five years is as follows:
Number 1981 4 1982 1 1983 2 1984 — 1985 2