§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to reduce the pension entitlement of convicted police officers. [34340]
§ Mr. MichaelPolice Pensions Regulations provide for police authorities to forfeit the pensions of police officers convicted of treason or of offences under the Official Secrets Act. There is also provision for forfeiture of a pension where an officer has been convicted of an offence committed in connection with his service as a member of a police force which has been certified by the Secretary562W of State to have been either gravely injurious to the interests of the State or liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service. It is the responsibility of police authorities to identify cases which might merit forfeiture and to apply to the Secretary of State for the issue of a certificate. In the Metropolitan Police Service, the Commissioner identifies such cases to the Secretary of State. While such cases are few, it is wrong to provide public money for the pensions of those officers who have abused their position of trust and forfeiture should be a serious consideration in all such cases.