Page 33 - Federation magazine: October / November 2016

Widows’ pension
campaign heads
to Westminster
Campaigner Kate Hall is once again
leading a visit to Parliament to This ‘postcode lottery’ has provided Kate divorce settlement, that former partner is
lobby MPs to support calls for all with a cornerstone for her campaign. able to retain the pension regardless of
widows to be allowed to keep their police “These unfair rules have caused whether they re-marry or co-habit with a
pensions regardless of whether they heartbreak for so many families for so many new partner.
re-marry or co-habit with a new partner. years,” she said. “So the rules are utterly contradictory,”
Kate, whose husband Colin was a West “The Government has told us it will be said Kate, “The widows are the last people
Midlands Police dog handler and died on too costly for us to keep our pensions if we these officers loved so for an ex-partner to be
duty in 1987, will lead a delegation of re-marry or co-habit and those who have able to keep their share of the pension when
around 20 widows and supporters on the already chosen love over money will not have the widow isn’t allowed to, is most bizarre.
latest trip to London on Wednesday 26 their pensions reinstated for the same “The heart of my campaign is my concern
October. reason. for the children affected by these
Among the MPs they are scheduled to “Parity with Northern Ireland would be inconsistent regulations. I also believe
meet are Madeleine Moon, Labour MP for cost neutral - it costs not a penny more serving police officers deserve the peace of
Bridgend, Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP continuing to pay a police widow her mind that, should the worst happen, their
for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Tim Farron, leader pension should she decide to re-marry or survivors’ benefits will be payable for life,
of the Liberal Democrats and MP for move in with a partner, than it would if she irrespective of any new partnership.”
Westmorland and Lonsdale, and David remained living alone.” Kate’s campaign continues.
Winnick, Labour MP for Walsall North. The campaign has had some success. In
“We are awaiting replies from a number October last year the Home Secretary
of MPs still to confirm their attendance or announced widows, widowers and civil
decline our invitation,” says Kate. partners of police officers who have died on
Kate set up an online petition in 2014 duty, will continue to receive their benefits
asking the Government to review police for life regardless of future re-marriage, civil
pension regulations in relation to widows, partnership or cohabitation.
widowers and civil partners. But this only applies to those who
There are currently more than 114,000 re-married, formed a civil partnership or
signatures supporting that petition and the co-habited after 1 April 2015.
campaign has gained the support of the It has also been strengthened by
National Association of Retired Police Scotland making similar changes to
Officers and the Police Federation of England Northern Ireland, stating that widows of
and Wales. officers killed on duty in Scotland who have
Significant changes made in Northern re-married or moved in with a partner will
Ireland mean all RUC widows will now have their pensions reinstated and
receive their pensions for life – irrespective backdated to 1 October 2015.
of when and how their husbands died and Kate’s determination is increased further
those who had them revoked due to by another strange twist in the police
re-marriage or moving in with a partner pension regulations which states that if a
have had them reinstated. fallen officer’s ex-spouse was awarded a
share of the officer’s pension as part of the

On their travels…

West Midlands Sergeant and Federation member
Sharon Jones is an avid touring motorcyclist and in
June this year rode all to way to Moscow with her West
Midlands Police Federation (WMPF) shopping bag at
her side. She is pictured showing it off in Red Square.
We would love to hear from anyone whose WMPF
shopping bag has travelled somewhere with them.
We would need photographic evidence of the
journey and a £50 Amazon voucher will be awarded to
the shopping bag that travels to the most exotic
destination!

www.westmidspolfed.com federation October/November 2016 33