Letter: Police force plea

Regulation A19 of the Police Pension Regulations 1987 allows police authorities and boards to compulsorily retire police officers from Constable to Chief Superintendent who have achieved pensionable service.

This means 30 years' police service and can apply to officers as young as 48 who are at the peak of their careers. While short-term savings have to be made, the loss to the service in terms of leadership, specialist skills and experience cannot be overstated. This option can be considered when it is in the interests of the efficiency of the force concerned.

This is a false economy. Recruitment of police officers has also all but stopped. This situation is all the more frustrating and unsustainable as it flies in the face of the UK government's drive to have people work beyond the current retirement age of 65.

There is no substitute for experience and these officers who are at the top of their game still have much to offer the service.

Such loss of experienced officers in this way is short-termism particularly as we head towards hosting the Olympic Games in 2012 and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

Police officers should be allowed to retire on their terms and be treated with respect and dignity, having given their lives to public duty, at times in the most dangerous of circumstances. Many of these dedicated, experienced officers have a strong desire to continue serving their communities, protecting the public.

We hope there is an outbreak of common sense and that any thoughts of using this dated piece of legislation will be left where they belong - in the past.

(Ch Supt) David O'Connor

Association of Scottish Police Superintendents

Main Street

Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire