Our Police Officers enjoy a range of rewards and benefits including generous annual leave, membership of the Police Pension Scheme and a competitive starting salary which increases with length of service.
Pay and Conditions
| Police Constable | Salary |
|---|---|
| On Appointment | £21,534 |
| After satisfactory completion of 31 weeks | £24,039 |
| After successful completion of Probationer Period (normally 2 years) | £25,434 |
| Rising by annual increments to | £33,810 |
| Years Service | Standard Leave Entitlements |
|---|---|
| 0-4 years | 22 days |
| 5-9 years | 24 days |
| 10-14 years | 27 days |
| 15-19 years | 28 days |
| 20 or more | 30 days |
Police Pension Scheme
The Police Pension Scheme provides officers with a range of benefits. Here is a summary of important information about the scheme
- Key Features
- All new recruits to the police service from 6th April 2006 onwards will become members of the Police Pension Scheme (NPPS).
- You will contribute 9.5% of your pay to the scheme, which represents about 1/3 of the cost of your providing pension benefits.
- The NPPS is a ‘final salary’ scheme, which means that your pension is calculated as a proportion of your ‘final pensionable pay’. This is generally earnings in your last year of service as a member of the scheme.
- The pension that you will receive depends on your pensionable service, which for most officers will be the length of service in the Police Force for which they have paid pension contributions, with appropriate adjustments for part-time service.
- Other Features
- An immediate pension and lump sum is payable to any officer at any age who is granted ill health retirement.
- There is a facility to buy more pension in the scheme (added years) within the overall limit of 35 years.
- It is possible to exchange all or part of the lump sum in exchange for a more annual pension. Every officer has an opportunity to opt out of the scheme.
- If an officer builds up pension rights in the scheme, but leaves the police service (or ops out of the scheme) before retirement, he or she will be eligible for a ‘deferred pension’ payable at the age of 65.
- Pension Benefits for Police Officers
- The earliest age at which a scheme member can be paid their pension is 55.
- Thirty-five years service is needed for a maximum pension.
- A maximum pension is half of final pay and there is also an automatic tax-free lump sum of four times the pension.
- Final pay can take account of pay in up to 10 years prior to retirement, if this would give a bigger pension.
- Each year of pensionable service gives entitlement to a pension of 1/70 of final pay, up to a limit of 35/70.
- Pensions in payment are increased for inflation.
- Benefits for Others on the Death of a Police Officer
- A lump sum death grant of three times’ pay, with the officer having some freedom to nominate who should receive it.
- A pension for a spouse or civil partner, payable for life – these are normally half of the officer’s pension entitlement.
- A partner who is neither a spouse nor a civil partner may be eligible for a pension. Dependent children under 23 may qualify for a pension.
- Pensions for Unmarried Partners on the Death of a Police Officer
- An important feature of the scheme is the provision for the payment of a pension for life to a Police Officer’s partner, even if they are not married to each other or in a civil partnership. You must satisfy a number of conditions and you and your partner must complete all the necessary documentation – otherwise no pension can be paid.
- Medical Retirement and Ill Health Pensions
- A police authority has discretion to retire a Police Officer on medical grounds. In common with other leading public sector pension schemes, there are two levels of ill health pension; a standard ill health pension and an enhanced top-up ill health pension.
- Other Points
- The scheme does not have a formal AVC (additional voluntary contributions) arrangement, but officers are free to make contributions to personal pension schemes as well as the police scheme with very wide limits.
- It is possible for deferred pensions (payable at age 65) to be paid early on request, but this will be subject to ‘actuarial reduction’ to reflect that they will be paid earlier and for a longer period.
We're central. You're central.