Current Campaigns

The sections below describe all the currently active COPS campaigns and funding initiatives. We will keep you informed of any new developments as they happen, so check this page regularly for more information.

POLICE WIDOWS PENSION CAMPAIGN

Background to the Campaign

The Home Office have confirmed that from April 2006 new pensions rules will be in place, which will give lifetime benefits to spouses, partners and same sex partners on the death of an officer. Any officer who joins the force after 2006 will automatically enter the new pension scheme. Officers currently serving have the option to transfer to the new scheme, but those of us who are already in receipt of a spouses's pension have no such choice, and will still have pensions withdrawn if we re-marry or co-habit. This is discrimatory, and COPS will continue to fight for parity.

Well done to all the widows throughout Britain have responded to our call, to object to the new police rules which discriminate against those already in receipt of a widow's pension. So many of them have written to the Home Secretary and voiced their concerns that he has agreed to urgently review the changes. This does not mean we have won so we must keep up the pressure.

If you have not written your letter of complaint to the Home Secretary and your MP, please do so ASAP. If you wish to speak to Christine Fulton about the changes, please do not hesitate to contact her by telephone or email. She is always happy to talk to you.

Visit to the Home Office and House of Commons

On Wednesday 8th March 2006, nine police widows from across the country, plus three members of the Essex branch of NARPO, went to the Home Office and the House of Commons, to protest at the proposed changes to the police pensions scheme. They were accompanied by Douglas Carswell MP , who had arranged the visits.

At the Home Office, the then Minister for Police, Hazel Blears MP , was unable to see the party at that time, but agreed to arrange a meeting in the near future. A representative from her office collected letters from the ladies, which outlined how their husbands had died, and how the loss had affected them and their families.

On Tuesday 21st March 2006, Mrs Blears kept her word, and met with COPS trustee Helen Walker , Sarah Moore and Sue Bishop , along with their MPs (one from each party). The ladies outlined their concerns about the unfairness of the system. Mrs Blears was sympathetic, but pointed out that making the new scheme retrospect would not just affect the police service, but local government and armed forces. How many local government officers die in the line of duty?

Mrs Blears confirmed that the Home Secretary is currently reviewing the proposals, and it was hoped to have an answer soon. The armed forces, fire brigade, and ambulance service all changed their pension schemes several years ago; if the government had amended the police pension at the same time, many of you would not be in this disgraceful position.

If a widow or widower has formed a new relationship and had their pension taken from them, they can apply for it to be reinstated if it subsequently fails. However, having gone through the humiliation of having to admit to the breakdown of that relationship, there appears to be no urgency in the reinstatement. One widow recently had to wait over a year for her application to be processed; another who applied several weeks ago has not had an acknowledgement to her letter.

Our campaign will go on.

Publicity on Radio and Television

The pension campaign has received a lot of publicity following a BBC television interview with Sarah Moore and Tracy Walker . Both Eilisa Broaddhurst and Christine Fulton were interviewed on Radio 4's Woman's Hour , and several magazine and newspaper articles followed.

Kate Parker has spoken at length to the Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Home Secretary John Reid, but perhaps the most appreciated support has come from Richard Brunstrom Chief Constable of North Wales, who has publically backed the campaign, giving it special mention in his blog (online diary).

The additional publicity has brought the campaign to the attention of many more police widows, most of whom have remarried and lost their pension, but have been happy to write letters to the Home Secretary on our behalf.

Applying for a Pension to be Reinstated?

Gill Merrin Shares Her Experience

My husband Bill , the father of my children, was murdered whilst on duty in 1993. I was fortunate to fall in love again, but on the 8th March 2006, three days before my son's wedding, my partner of three years left.

As you can imagine, I was in shock, but carried on as I did not want to spoil the occassion. Once the wedding had taken place, I wrote to the force that deals with my late husband's pension, to inform them of my change in circumstances, as I had when Gary moved in with me. My pension then had stopped immediately.

I received no reply to my first letter, not even an acknowledgement, so I wrote again. Eventually I received a response. I was told that I would be means tested on my eligibility for the reinstatement of my pension, and that this would include somebody coming to my house to verify that Gary was no longer living there. I had to provide details of exactly how I spent my money, including personal items, prescriptions if any, how much I spent on newspapers, utility bills, credit cards and loans; I even had to produce my bank statements.

This was a very intrusive interview which caused me a great deal of stress, which wasn't helped by the fact that the man was unaware as to how Bill died, so I had to give him the details. They also wanted background information on Gary and my financial arrangements, and asked me if I knew where he was living. This interview took place in May 2006. My pension was eventually reinstated mid July. It was a long haul and very stressful. Why did they check my circumstances? Bill has not been resurrected. I was only asking for what I was entitled to from the force.

I am sure Bill thought that when he paid into the pension fund, that it would be for life. He would never have wanted me to be penalised for moving on. I realise that the Police Authority have a job to do, but I wonder do they ever stop to consider the impact this has on us, when we have already been to hell and back?

Gill Merrin
Survivor and Widow