§ Mr. Brian JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many former police officers are on retirement pensions; and how many police there are in service; [82171]
(2) what the average age of retirement for police has been over the last five years; [82176]
(3) what the average pension received by a police officer is; and what percentage of final salary a police officer is entitled to after 30 years service. [82179]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 27 November 2002]Specific information relating to all forces in England and Wales about the number of former police officers with pensions, their average retirement age and the average level of their pensions is not held centrally.
We estimate that about 125,000 former officers and dependents are receiving pensions and that about three quarters of these will be former officers. As at 31 March 2002, there were 129,603 police officers in England and Wales.
Although national information is not available, figures provided by the Staffordshire Police for the average age of retirement of police officers from that force either with an ordinary or ill-health pension are in given in the table.
Based on data from 11 forces we estimate that the average amount received by a former officer retiring with an ordinary pension or ill-health pension, not including the lump sum, is about £11,800 per annum. After 30 years of service and contributions to the Police Pension Scheme, a police officer is entitled to 40/60ths of his or her average pensionable pay for the final year of service, or one half average pensionable pay if he or she elects to commute a quarter of his or her pension for a lump sum.
Year Average age 1997 48.15 1998 48.73 1999 49.43 2000 50.41 2001 57.75