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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

that the police get such massive pensions...

499 replies

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 09:57

....and from the age of 50.

Other public sectar workers get nothing remotely resembling that.

OP posts:
LumpyLatimer · 25/03/2012 21:01

Viggle Thanks Wine Thanks

That is all.

And I felt that way before DP became 'job'.

Plomino · 25/03/2012 21:02

If you're on the Nhs pension, that too gives you the choice to commute 25% into a tax free lump sum according to the website. Which is what I will choose to do, the same as my dh did . It is deducted from his pension pot, same as yours would be. Not a lump sum on top . According to the same Nhs website, even when the changes come in, in 2015 , the highest earners contributions will be 10.9 %.

Not really much different to ours, is it ?

Don't you think that by making people fight each other, with the help of the tabloid press , that calls us either 'uncaring ', 'bungling' , 'jobsworth' or all possessing 'gold plated pensions ' that the real enemy is making fools of us all ? And getting richer, while we ALL gradually get poorer , in spirit as well as cash.

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:03

"Taken I really don't know where you're getting your figures from."

From my brother-in-law who is a policeman.

OP posts:
Cassettetapeandpencil · 25/03/2012 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:06

"you do not pay the same in!"

I pay 5% less. Does that make my 5k a year and the police 25k a year at aged 50 fair?

OP posts:
Tiredtrout · 25/03/2012 21:06

Taken, I have no doubt that you are good at your job and dedicated to it too. Police terms and conditions state that I and my colleagues have no right to strike, it's an offence, we can be told where to live and who we live with, we can go into work one day and be told we are working from another station the next. I've only been allowed to book 3 days leave over the whole summer due to the Olympics, Paralympics, jubilee, horse racing and music festivals.

I've been punched repeatedly, ran over, kicked in the belly causing loss of a child, my house has been targeted and I've been abused in the street, my children have been verbally abused at school. I've been hassled at a family funeral because someone got a traffic ticket somewhere. I've also been threatened with knives, removed people from burning vehicles before fire got there twice, both times the people involved have been so out of it they have gone for me, I work in a rural patch normally single crewed, my back up is often 25 minutes away. I volunteer to give people the news their loved ones have died. I love my job, I hate how we are being portrayed in the media and on some of these forums at the moment. I'm sorry that your pension isn't as good as it should be, I think everyone's should be better but this month my payments to my pension are going up £100 PCM plus on top of that this year I lose a payment of £2000 I have been getting annually. That is £3200 loss this year in my pocket on top of my pay being frozen.

All of the Public sector is being shafted at the moment, I couldn't do any other role but mine and I'm sure other people feel the same way

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 25/03/2012 21:08

Taken - An nhs website says nurses earning between £25 & £69k contribute 6.5% .... Not the same as what you said. Also a far cry from the 15% that pcs pay.

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:09

"Taken - why ask AIBU then continue to insist YANBU even after everyone that has replied has told you that you are"

I'm hoping someone will argue why a policeman gets such a bigger pension than me?

OP posts:
agedknees · 25/03/2012 21:09

To the OP. Why pick on police pensions? Why not go for MP's pensions? After all, they sit on their bums all day and do nothing.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 25/03/2012 21:12

Taken ... What do you pay towards your pension?

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:12

"I've been punched repeatedly, ran over, kicked in the belly causing loss of a child, my house has been targeted and I've been abused in the street, my children have been verbally abused at school. I've been hassled at a family funeral because someone got a traffic ticket somewhere. I've also been threatened with knives, removed people from burning vehicles before fire got there twice,I've been punched repeatedly, ran over, kicked in the belly causing loss of a child, my house has been targeted and I've been abused in the street, my children have been verbally abused at school. I've been hassled at a family funeral because someone got a traffic ticket somewhere. I've also been threatened with knives, removed people from burning vehicles before fire got there twice,"

That sound horrible - sorry to hear that. You do a bloody good job. I don't dispute that.

OP posts:
TheBigJessie · 25/03/2012 21:13

Hmm, I have to say, as it stands, the lauded police pension isn't high enough to make me apply.

Make it should be increased?

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:13

"To the OP. Why pick on police pensions? Why not go for MP's pensions?"

I don't disagee there.

OP posts:
Cassettetapeandpencil · 25/03/2012 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:15

"Taken ... What do you pay towards your pension?"

As far as I know 12%.

OP posts:
cookcleanerchaufferetc · 25/03/2012 21:15

Taken ... As a nurse you would, according to several websites contribute 6.5% to your pension, and have had several pension freezes. The police pay almost 10% more to their pension and you are asking why their pension is bigger....

It's basic Maths!

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 25/03/2012 21:17

You will pay a max of 8.5% and probably more like 5 or 6 % if you are in the NHS scheme.

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:18

"It is full of eloquent explantation why their pension is larger than yours."

I accept they do a difficult job and that there should be incentives and perks to the - but the financial argument is NOT transparent.

OP posts:
DeepPurple · 25/03/2012 21:20

Plomino, great post.

With all the cuts happening at the moment the average Police Officer will be £6000 a year worse off. They will have to work 35 years not 30. Pension contributions are going to increase to 18% and their pensions will be worth less.

On a daily basis I have to see things that most people get through life never seeing. I face danger each and every day. If I see a crime being committed, a person in danger or anything like that I have an obligation to do something. Even when I am not on duty.

I have to work hideous shifts which are between 8 and 10 hours long. Regularly I have to work over due to demand. I DO NOT get paid for the first 30 minutes of each lot of overtime. They are now cutting the overtime rate from time and a half to time and a third and still not paying for the first half an hour.

There is noting stopping you becoming a Police Officer. Maybe if you tried it for a day you'd understand why the pension is good. No one would want to do the job if it wasn't.

Oh and the reason it can be a good pension is because the average life expectancy of a Police Officer is 7 years after retirement. Many die younger.

Tiredtrout · 25/03/2012 21:20

All of the things we go through are why we get our pension earlier traditionally, we pay more in then other public sector workers. I have colleagues on my shift who are on tax credits to get through the month supporting their families. As vicar said this annual fitness test recommendation is likely to be coming in soon enough, I don't know how many will be forced out because of it without a full pension because of injuries they are carrying that are completely capable of carrying out their job

TakenYears · 25/03/2012 21:20

"The police pay almost 10% more to their pension and you are asking why their pension is bigger"

If that's the case then it is still disproportioately bigger - 5k for me - 25k+ for them?

OP posts:
cookcleanerchaufferetc · 25/03/2012 21:20

Taken ... You are losing the argument .....

LumpyLatimer · 25/03/2012 21:21

Taken - oh, right. Your BIL said. Fine. Hmm

I will never fathom the mentality of someone resenting the rewards of others. Complain about bankers' bonuses compared to nurses' wages: fine. To be so bitter and envious and lacking in perspective that essentially you want everyone to be on as shit a footing as you feel yourself to be is a really appalling frame of mind. Where will that get you'? Why resent police officers? Especially when your information and reasoning is so flawed.

Meh. It's clear no-one can change your mind.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 25/03/2012 21:22

Would the hospital cleaner get the same pension as you ... Or the police? We do not live in a dictatorship, people do not get the same.

gettingeasier · 25/03/2012 21:23

Taken even I with my limited numerical ability can see a police officer should draw a higher pension

Aside from the numbers involved I think the posts from those in or related to the police explain clearly why they spend their working lives earning that pension.

I accept as a nurse you do a sterling job too but its really not the same

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