How Can They Take A Policeman's Pension Away?

[ToraToraTora]

related to a thread in news, ok they can fire a policeman but surely if he's paid into a pension they cannot take that away?? By what mechanism is that possible?

[anneasquith]

Breaking the law. Being dismissed .

[ToraToraTora]

yes but how cn they take away the pension? As far as I know in any other job they cannot.

[ToraToraTora]

eg I work in a bank, even if I got fired for gross misconduct or even if for something illegal they can't take my pension away.

[steg]

//https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/governance-and-decision-making/mopac-decisions--20//

This may be of help (I’ve not read it but does look promising)

[Prudie]

There is that rule in the Civil Service for gross misconduct (loss of pension) and it has always been so - however what with ACAS, lawyers, tribunals etc I don't believe it has actually been done to anyone for many many years.

[Ken4155]

The withdrawal of pension rights is covered in Regulation K (5) which, condensed, says that if an officer is fired, commits treason or brings the force into disrepute, that officer's pension rights are forfeited. One would assume that all police officer's are more than aware of this when they enlist.

[steg]

Oops try this one

https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/governance-and-decision-making/mopac-decisions--20

[Fitzer]

As I read it the forfeiture only relates to that part of the pension provided by the employer, not the contributions made by the person.

[ToraToraTora]

ok thanks all

[dannyk13]

They can't.I believe this only happens to the American forces.

[barry1010]

They can and they do, danny

[woofgang]

danny, look at steg's link

[dannyk13]

OK, admit I was wrong.Sorry.

[retrocop]

They most certainly can and will take your pension. That is made perfectly clear from day 1.

[gulliver1]

What if the bank goes Bankrupt. or the pension is underfunded, due to poor management. Poor investment returns .Think in the present circumstances nothing is Guaranteed. Often think of those workers who were employed by Phillip Green and were looking forward to their Pensions. Could well be nothing left in the pot when it comes to ones turn.

[jno]

that happened to Daily Mirror employees, didn't it gulliver ... what a family, those Maxwells.

But yes ... I imagine the thinking behind the police confiscating your pension is that you've caused damage to the force that outweighs the value of the money they've put into your pension, so it's a sort of damages award to themselves.

[fiction-factory]

gulliver- I think this may help correct any misunderstanding
you may get some answers here. There are some quite valuable protections.

https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions/protection-for-your-pension#:~:text=Defined%20benefit%20pension%20schemes&text=You're%20usually%20protected%20by,below%20the%20scheme's%20pension%20age

If your employer goes bust:

Defined contribution pensions are usually run by pension providers, not employers. You will not lose your pension pot if your employer goes bust.
Some extracts here are relevant:

You’re usually protected by the Pension Protection Fund if your employer goes bust and cannot pay your pension

If your pension provider goes bust:
If the pension provider was authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and cannot pay you, you can get compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Fraud, theft or bad management
If there’s a shortfall in your company’s pension fund because of fraud or theft, you may be eligible for compensation from the Fraud Compensation Fund.

None of this is relevant to the OP though- just to gulliver's post

[ubasses]

And to put Gulliver's mind at rest over the BHS and Arcadia Group pensions. Philip Green was forced to pay hundreds of millions of his personal funds into the pots.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/28/philip-green-agrees-pay-363m-bhs-pension-fund
https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/05/sir-philip-green-pours-25000000-arcadia-group-pension-fund-9813672/

[New Judge]

I know it's an available sanction but I've always found it to be outrageous. I don't know if it's ever been challenged in a court or tribunal but if not it needs to be. The fact that it is in the regulations and so effectively provides a condition in the contract of employment does not make it legal. An employer cannot impose an unfair contract term and that's exactly what this is - unfair.

[gulliver1]

13.18 + 13.34 .Nothing in this world is certain , especially at the moment.