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PIPIN was created as an information network for former police officers, retired because of injuries received in the course of their duties, after the Home Office issued guidance to UK police forces advising them that they could use the review process, intended by the Regulations to provide the pensioner with the correct level of pension, to reduce the injury pensions of ex officers who had reached retirement age. Individuals came together to oppose the policies based on the guidance and PIPIN became a focal point for the challenges, providing news, information updates, a forum and access to to our legal advisers.
The Home Office guidance was eventually declared unlawful and withdrawn along with the policies based on it. Injury pensions were reinstated but lives had been badly affected. Unfortunately, the matter did not end and a number of police forces continue to try to use, or misuse, the review process to achieve cost savings. Now it is not just older ex officers that are affected but younger injured officers and, increasingly, serving officers. The issue has become much more complex and we are fortunate to have our very experienced and successful legal team available. The formation of our dedicated support charity IODPA means we are now better equipped to face future increasingly complex challenges. IODPA is funded by membership subscription, donations and fundraising and run by IOD's, for IOD's. It is vitally important that an IOD ex officer should be part of IODPA. The role of PIPIN has changed and now, although still a valuable source of information and updates, now exists as a record of how determined injured former officers stood up to the might of the Home Office and certain police forces to achieve justice against the unlawful exploitation of their just pension entitlements. |
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