NARPO maintains that those who have been injured on duty are taking a financial hit as a result of Home Office circular.

The National Association of Retired Police Officers is calling for a Home Office circular that it claims is causing misery for former officers injured on duty to be rescinded.

The Association highlighted that the document – which advises that pensions of former officers injured on duty to the lowest level at age 65 and over – is unfair and unjust.

While accepting that not all forces in England and Wales had adopted the circular, NARPO Chief Executive Clint Elliot said it had caused genuine hardship for many.

He added that the Home Office had been working on alternative guidance for more than two years, but maintained that the initial efforts still fell short.

Mr Elliot stressed that NARPO was calling on the Home Office to advise all forces that had adopted policies based on the circular to return on ex-officers to their former level of pension – as well as compensate them for the loss of money.

He added: “This guidance was published eight years ago and not all forces acted on it. But the Home Office must act now and put the problem right.

“People are being left out of pocket to the tune of thousands of pounds a year.”

Eric Evans, President of NARPO, echoed the sentiment. He added: “This is a long and sorry tale of forces seeking to save money at the expense of our infirm member, who were injured serving their communities, in a way that is unlawful.

“NARPO has tried to highlight these issues directly to those forces, which adopted the advice of the Home Office. It is time the Home Office came forward to rectify this reduction.”

A Home Office spokeswoman stressed that the issue is being examined. She added: “We are considering this judgement, which relates to guidance issued in 2004.

“The Government has made clear its commitment to ensure police pay and conditions are fair to both officers and taxpayers,” the spokeswoman concluded.

Guidance ‘Causing Misery For Retired Officers’