Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Police Pensions Sub-committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 25 November 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Anthony Arbour
• Cindy Butts
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Olubunmi Adekunle (Professional Standards)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Services)

Also present: Judith Chrystie (Solicitor, seconded to the MPA)

Part 1

9. Election of Chair

(Agenda item 1)

Resolved – That Cindy Butts be elected to chair the meeting.

10. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 2)

No apologies were received.

11. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 3)

No declarations of interest were received.

12. Minutes of the Police Pensions Forfeiture Sub Committee – 5 January 2004

(Agenda item 4)

The Sub Committee considered the minutes of the Sub Committee meeting held on 5 January 2005.

On 22 July, the Human Resources Committee resolved that all forfeiture decisions taken by the MPA since July 2000 would be re-calculated to reflect that the secured element of a pension (which reflected the officer’s own contributions), which had been actuarially assessed in February 2004 at 35% rather than the previously assumed 25%. It was noted that members had not seen the recalculations. It was agreed they would be provided to members at the next meeting of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committee. It was also requested that police pension forfeiture matters discussed in the Human Resources Committee, be bought to the attention of interested non-members.

Members were informed that a permanent MPA Professional Standards officer would shortly begin working for the MPA.

Resolved – That

1. the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record; and
2. and members be given sight of the recalculated pension forfeitures.

13. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 5)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 6, 7, and 8 as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in paragraph 1, schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of agenda items 6, 7 and 8.

Part 2: Summary of exempt items

14. Exempt minutes of the Police Pensions Forfeiture Sub Committee – 17 May 2004

(Agenda item 6)

The Sub Committee considered the exempt minutes of the Sub Committee meeting held on 17 May 2004.

Resolved – That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

15. Potential applications to the Home Secretary for certificates of forfeiture

(Agenda item 7)

Members considered a potential application to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture. Members reviewed all the papers provided and analysed the criteria to be fulfilled, before resolving that an application be made to the Home Office for a certificate for forfeiture.

16. Police pension forfeiture

(Agenda item 8)

Members considered the amount of pension, up to 65% that should be forfeited by an officer imprisoned for an offence. Members reviewed all the papers provided and analysed the criteria to be fulfilled, before resolving that 50% of the pension should be permanently forfeited.

Members requested a list of all outstanding cases where officers had been convicted, and a decision concerning their pension was awaited. Members were provided with a list of thirteen cases where a certificate had been issued and three where an application for a certificate had yet to be considered. In the former cases, five ex-officers had requested oral hearings. Officers were asked to consider the feasibility of oral representation being facilitated by video link. It was noted that Horseferry Magistrates Court had a video link, and Rachel Whittaker undertook to pursue this with the court, whilst officers ascertained if prisons had similar facilities.

Meeting ended 3.00 p.m.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback