SPF congratulates three members for bravery

Three police officers have been recognised for their bravery by the First Minister.  Sergeant Ian Harkin and PCs Michael Booker and Sarah Walkinshaw were honoured at the Brave@Heart awards for showing personal courage and compassion during a life and death situation while on duty. They were injured by an explosion after a man barricaded himself in his kitchen before causing an explosion with gas and petrol.  As a fire ripped through the property, the three officers risked their own lives by bravely battling through the flames to the kitchen to aid the man who was armed with a knife.  The SPF sends these officers its sincere congratulations.

On 1^st April 2013 all of the death benefit schemes across Scotland deducted through Police payrolls ceased to exist and those members in the existing schemes were transferred into the newly created Scottish Police Federation Death Benefit Scheme. Because the new single force has many more members the payment deducted from salary on the death of a member was reduced to £2.50 and the sum payable to beneficiaries is in excess of £40,000.  Unless you opted out you were automatically transferred into the new scheme as of 1^st April 2013.  Any member who wishes to opt out now should advise both their relevant payroll  and their local Federation office in writing.  Full details of the scheme are available on this website within the Member Services area.

Dear Colleague,

The Scottish Government has announced the design framework for police pensions from 2015. As expected the proposals mirror those advanced for England & Wales. This is an exceptionally disappointing development and one which is unfair on the women and men of the police service of Scotland; many of whom now face significant disruption and uncertainty over their financial future and working expectations.

The announcement is accompanied by a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. This can be viewed here.

The proposal itself can be viewed here with some accompanying worked examples and a calculator being available on the SPPA website in the near future. These can be viewed here.

An updated copy of the SPF booklet explaining CARE pensions is also attached and can be viewed here. Please note the important additions in red text.

Please read all the explanatory information contained in these documents and keep visiting this page for regular updates.

Calum Steele
General Secretary
Scottish Police Federation
5 Woodside Place
Glasgow
G3 7QF

Tel: +44 (0)300 303 0027
Web: spf.org.uk

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This new website is primarily for the information of police officers but there is no ‘members only’ section and no need to ‘register’ as was previously the case.  We hope you find the information relevant and useful.

NEW: Important Member Services Information