Police Injury Pensions Facing a Review?

14 Questions to ask the SMP

Any former police officer facing the prospect of a review of his or her injury pension needs to prepare for the event. Here are some questions that you really ought to ask the Selected Medical Practitioner (SMP conducting the review. !o this "efore he "egins. Make a written record of the replies and ask the SMP to sign them as a true account. #. $hat is your %eneral Medical &ouncil registration num"er' (. $hat are your professional qualifications and specialisms' ). $hat professional "odies are you a mem"er of' *. $ho employs you for this review' +. $hat training have you received for the task of conducting a review of my injury pension' ,. $hat instructions have you "een given for this review and-or reviews in general' .. Has anyone advised you/ instructed you or in any way suggested to you what decisions you should come to in this review' 0. Have you "een asked to make any recommendation as to when a further review might take place or to make any prognosis concerning my duty injury' 1. !o you understand that you are acting in a quasi2judicial capacity' #3. Are you aware of the Administrative &ourt decisions in the cases of Anton/ 4urner/ Pollard/ 5aws/ &rudace/ Simpson/ Haworth and the Pension 6m"udsman determination in the case of Ayre' ##. !o you understand how they effect the conduct of this review' #(. !o you understand that Home 6ffice guidance cannot overrule the Police (7njury 8enefit 9egulations (33,' #). !o you understand that the guidance provided in Anne: & to Home 6ffice &ircular *,-(33* and equivalent guidance provided "y the Home 6ffice in Part + of %uidance on Medical Appeals has "een declared unlawful' 4he Home has now withdrawn Anne: & guidance entirely. #*. $ill you "e providing a narrative report that sets out your assessment process/ your conclusions and your reasons for them'

;otes< 4he author of this document is a former police officer in receipt of an injury pension. 4he contents of the document should "e taken as advice only and is given with no authority e:plicit or implied. 4he usual caveats apply. Any former officer who faces a review of their injury pension should make prompt contact with their local ;A9P6 and Police =ederation representatives. =urther information relevant to police injury pensions is availa"le on www.scri"d.com-wdtk 4here is a self2help group for former officers in receipt of an injury pension/ run via email. 7t has mem"ers from across >ngland/ $ales and ;orthern 7reland. 7t offers/ support/ information/ advice and practical assistance. >mail a checka"le introductory message to the Mem"ership Secretary at this email address< whatsyourforcedoing?yahoo.co.uk =ormer officers in receipt of an injury pension may also wish to know that help/ advice and practical assistance is availa"le to them. A we" site 2 P7P7;2 has "een set up as a contact point for former Police 6fficers who have had to retire prematurely owing to injuries received in the performance of their duties/ or serving officers who are a"out to retire due to injury on duty. %o to www.pipin.org.uk 2 it is free/ friendly and informal. ;ote< P7P7; is complementary to "ut completely independent from ;A9P6 and the Police =ederation "ut it recognises and applauds the sterling work done "y those organisations.