Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 and the Police Pensions (Purchase of Increased Benefits) Regulations 1987 as they apply in England and Wales.

Regulation 2 amends the Police Pensions Regulations 1987. Regulation 2(2) to (4) applies in relation to an applicant to a police force who is assessed as being likely to be disproportionately expensive to the Police Pension Scheme by reason of a medical condition which will lead to his retirement. Such a person will be ineligible for early payment of an ordinary pension, for payment of an ill-health pension on compulsory retirement, and for early payment of deferred pension because of permanent disablement.

Regulation 2(5) provides that such a person will pay a correspondingly reduced rate of pension contributions.

Regulation 2(6) provides that the restrictions on eligibility for pension awards may also apply to a person who, having previously elected not to pay pension contributions, decides to cancel that election.

Regulation 2(7) provides for the process whereby a person may be assessed as presenting a high risk of retirement on the grounds that he is permanently disabled such that the cost of providing benefits would be disproportionately high. Provision is made for appeals against such a medical assessment.

Regulation 3 makes consequential amendments to the Police Pensions (Purchase of Increased Benefits) Regulations 1987. A person who has been assessed as presenting a disproportionately high risk of retirement will be ineligible for receiving additional benefits if he retires on ill-health grounds, and the amount of the payments he makes for any increased benefits will be determined by the Government Actuary.