that the police get such massive pensions...

[TakenYears]

....and from the age of 50.

Other public sectar workers get nothing remotely resembling that.

not saying that we need to better our pension (!!) but the way we are generally treated is appalling.

isn't the police federation balloting members for the right to strike, or am I confused?

i think unless you do a job, then you can not really say if a person is over paid.

police officer do need education to write reports,

www.firebelleproductions.com/newsletters/ReportWriting.pdf

cases can be lost due to report poorly written, i belive the reason we don't see the police is because they are back at the station making sure reports are written well

ilovemydog - yes there are but regardless of whether police vote for it it would need a change in legalisation - very unlikely to get through.

So Police Fed can ballot as much as they want it will make no difference .. .

"Taken - you won't have your mind changed."

Convince me that it's fairr that a police officer of my age group will be retiring at 50 - and I have to wait until I'm 67??

I''m a registered nurse - and we had two deaths on the ward today - and distressed relatives to deal with. I'm knackered. I'm going to have my tea now.

I joined with a degree so never looked at the educational requirements. I did have to pass maths and English exams as part of the recruitment process though. I also had to pass fitness tests and other exams.

As part of my initial police training I had to complete nvq levels 3 & 4 within the first two years. Had I not passed these I would have not been confirmed in post and I would have had to leave the force. Therefore, every officer recruited within the last 7 years had nvq levels 3&4. This equates to being able to use the letters dip rsa after their name. I am PC DeepPurple BA(hons) DIP RSA.

Any more questions regarding the level of education of an officer? Though quite frankly, common sense is the quite important. Education alone can't provide that.

Taken sounds like a bad day. Imagine having to do that everyday, plus put your own life on the line. Then maybe you might be somewhere near.

I have given you 2 reasons. They pay more and have a more dangerous job. You didn't answer the question about armed forces pension.

OP - It's a shame that you had such a rubbish day. Now imagine dealing with that plus some drunken idiot looking to start a fight, being faced with a person wielding two carving knives then being 3 hours late off and only getting time back for 2 1/2 as you have to deduct 30 mins for the queen. Oh and don't forget the fact that we HAVE to be there at least 15 minutes prior to our shift starting

At 17.17 I asked "OP would you prefer your pension and contributions to be higher or police officers lower?" I'm genuinely interested which it as. As I said at 10.48 "OP if you had said "AIBU to think nurses are underpaid, overworked and likely to get shafted on their pensions" I would have said YANBU."

Why choose Police Officers to compare yourself to? Why not doctors?

Yes but that's the point, they won't be either thanks to the Windsor report. It's not finalized but wont be retiring until at least 60. Plus there are going to be annual fitness tests - work it out, they can now get rid of you if you get injured in the line of duty as you aren't fit to do your job. Pension then isn't accessible until 67 too.
Life expectancy is considerably shorter so you pay in all these years and likely to die a lot younger thanks to the job you do.
Still think its unfair?

I promised myself I wouldn't be sucked back into this thread after the day I have had and the comments from badger, who has no salient points to bring to this debate.

Am going to enjoy what is left of my evening with DH

" I asked "OP would you prefer your pension and contributions to be higher or police officers lower?"

I think the contributions argument is a red herring - because we all know the the tax payer has to make considerable contributions themselve towards Police Pensions. The police and their contributions are NOT self funding. How could they be when they retire at 50. That's a LOT of money.

"The police pension scheme has changed, a 20 year old police officer who has joined the police today will not retire at 50."

I agree that seems much fairer.

"Now imagine dealing with that plus some drunken idiot looking to start a fight, being faced with a person wielding two carving knives then being 3 hours late off and only getting time back for 2 1/2 as you have to deduct 30 mins for the queen. Oh and don't forget the fact that we HAVE to be there at least 15 minutes prior to our shift starting"

I hear you DeepPurple.

I wouldn't do that job for a 200% final salary pension after 15 years. Not on your nelly. Being abused, punished, stabbed, shot, finding dead bodies, telling a parent that their child had been run over..... No way!

So would you prefer your contributions to be higher so you get a higher pension. OR do you just want Police to get less?

even getting the 2.5 hours back is a push on our area at the moment, depends on good will of the Sgt!

Well, we can book the 2.5 hours off but whether we actually finish at that time is debatable...

Deep Purple - To be honest I don't think the personal contributions dictate the outcome. Would be interested to know the proportion paid by tax payers towards the police pensions?

But yes, I'd be happy to pay a bit more.

The contributions argument is a red herring? oh FGS. Again, they pay more than you, they do a more difficult job, they have restrictions on their T&Cs, they have lifestyle restrictions hence they get back more than you. Get over it.

op you are a nurse and generally burseries are paid for people to become nurses so you get paid to become a nurse.

to be a nurse it takes 3 years, that the cost of learning and also a bursery on top of tax payers money before you (general) do 1 day of work as a quilified nurse.

"oh FGS. Again, they pay more than you,"

But it's a drop in the ocean!!

A police pension requires more funding than that!!

Tax payers have to subsidise for it.

But the life expectancy of a retired officer is 7 years.

Tax payers also pay our wages- you want to scrap those too?

"But the life expectancy of a retired officer is 7 years."

Is that right! Bloody hell!

My brother in law is nearly 50 and due to retire soon. He's a trainer - and so not on the front line as such. He's a fit guy I expect he'll live to a long age.