§ Lord Janner of Braunstoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they propose to take to encourage police officers not to retire after their initial 30 years' service; and [HL5786]
Whether consideration has now been completed as to whether any changes are required to the power to postpone the retirement of police officers; and [HL5787]
Whether they have decided on options that might be used to encourage suitable police officers to delay their retirements. [HL5788]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)As we stated in thePolice Reform White Paper of last December, we recognise that the current police pension scheme lacks the incentives to encourage officers to stay beyond 30 years and we are looking at ways of modernising police pensions to make them more flexible and affordable for future entrants. Any changes affecting new entrants will, however, take time to work through. We have therefore also been considering more immediate measures to retain the important skills and experience of officers beyond 30 years under the current police pension scheme.
50WAThe Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreed in May flexible arrangements that would give managers in the police service scope to retain officers who are entitled to retire with maximum benefits where they so wish. The arrangements agreed by the PNB entail an officer retiring with a lump sum in the ordinary way and then being re-engaged in his or her previous rank where management consider that would be helpful. We are currently considering the details of these arrangements and the proposal that the scheme should initially be piloted in five forces.