Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Police Pensions Sub-committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 22 September 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Anthony Arbour
• Rachel Whittaker
• Karim Murji

MPA officers

• Claire Lister (Head of Professional Standards)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Services)

1. Election of Chair

(Agenda item 1)

Resolved – That Rachel Whittaker be appointed Chair for this meeting.

2. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 2)

Apologies were received form Jennette Arnold, Cindy Butts, Damian Hockney, Aneeta Prem and John Roberts. As the Sub Committee needed three members present to be quorate, the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Authority had, by delegated action, approved the appointment of Karim Murji to this particular meeting. He had received training in dealing with the Sub Committee’s business.

The Head of Professional Standards commented on members’ lack of attendance at this Sub Committee. She felt the matter should be addressed, as delay in dealing with such cases could be used by ex-officers in any subsequent appeal. . The Chair felt this was something that be looked at by members at part of their review of the committee structure.

The Chair asked to see the minutes of this meeting within seven days. She also requested the next meeting of the Sub Committee receive a report indicating the time it took to receive police pension forfeiture cases from the MPS after sentencing, how long it took them to be considered by the Sub Committee and how long it took to obtain certificates of forfeiture if requested from the Home Office. The Chair was informed that in some cases it had taken three months to obtain a certificate from the Home Office, but that none were outstanding at this time.

Resolved – That a report be received on the timeliness of police pension forfeiture cases.

3. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 3)

No declarations of interest were received.

4. Minutes of the Police Pensions Forfeiture Sub- committee – 19 May 2005 and 26 May 2005

(Agenda item 4)

Resolved – That the minutes of the Police Pensions Forfeiture Sub Committee held on 19 May 2005 and 26 May 2005 be agreed

5. Update on appeals

(Agenda item 5)

Members received an oral update on appeals against police pension forfeiture. Members were informed that on 3 March, the Sub Committee had resolved that an ex-officer’s pension be forfeited by 65% on a permanent basis. He had appealed, but the judge had upheld the Sub Committee‘s decision. The Head of Professional Standards had a transcript of the judgement and would be sending it to the Association of Police Authorities as the judgement in this case differed from the advice previously provided to police authorities in an APA circular. On 24 February, members had agreed that 25% of an ex-officers pension should be forfeited permanently. His appeal would not now be heard until 20 November.

Resolved – That the update be received.

6. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 6)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 7 to 11 as they were likely to disclose exempt information as described in paragraph 1 and 7, 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 7 to 11.

Summary of exempt items

7. Police Pension regulations 1987 - application for certificate

(Agenda item 7)

After consideration, it was agreed that no application should be made to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture.

8. Police Pension regulations 1987 - application for certificate

(Agenda item 8)

After consideration, it was agreed an application should be made to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture.

9. Police Pension regulation 1987 - application for certificate

(Agenda item 9)

After consideration, it was agreed an application should be made to the Home Secretary for a certificate of forfeiture.

10. Police Pension regulations 1987 - Forfeiture of Pensions

(Agenda item 10)

After consideration, it was agreed that 30% of an ex-officers pension should be forfeited permanently

11. Exempt minutes of the Police Pensions Forfeiture Committee – 19 May 2005 and 26 May 2005

(Agenda item 4)

The exempt minutes of the Police Pensions Forfeiture Sub Committee held on 19 May 2005 and 26 May 2005 were agreed.

Meeting ended 3.00 p.m.

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