FOI 403399

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 403399

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 17^th April 2025. Please find below the response to your request:

Is the A20 rule in place in your organisation that forces compulsory retirement on the grounds of disablement?

Is the A19 rule in place in your organisation that allows you to make an officer of the rank of chief superintendent or below to retire in their general interests of efficiency.

Reply

West Mercia Police hold the information requested

Both of the quoted rules are from the 1987 Police Pension regulations which are now closed with all current officers transferred onto the 2015 scheme.

1. Is the A19 rule in place in your organisation that allows you to make an officer of the rank of chief superintendent or below to retire in their general interests of efficiency.

The 2015 scheme does not have the provision for the equivalent of Rule A19 (Compulsory retirement on grounds of efficiency of the force). This was related to the fact that where officers had accrued their maximum pension benefits (30 years) then the Chief Constable could require them to retire ‘in the efficiency of the force’. As the pension scheme is now a career average there is no provision/equivalent to A19. Therefore the answer to the question is no, Rule A19 is not in place.

1. Is the A20 rule in place in your organisation that forces compulsory retirement on the grounds of disablement?

Rule A20 (Compulsory retirement on grounds of disablement), again is from the Police Pension regulations 1987. The equivalent provision within the 2015 scheme is Regulation 82 (Compulsory retirement on grounds of permanent medical unfitness) can be applied by the Chief Constable where there has been a confirmation of permanent medical unfitness and it is felt that there are no alternative roles within the force that the individual can be required to undertake. Therefore, the answer to the question is yes, we can apply as Regulation 82.