Injury pension payments – draft statement re Court of Appeal decision

Court of Appeal refuses permission to Claimants to appeal High Court ruling on injury pension payments, 15 June 2021

Staffordshire Police notes the decision by the Court of Appeal to refuse Claimants’ application to appeal the decision made by the High Court on 18 September to dismiss claims made against the Force by 18 former police officers regarding review of their injury pension payments.

The claims were complex and involved significant scrutiny of the Force’s administration of injury pension reviews since 2017. The regulations place a duty upon Chief Constables, acting as the Police Pension Authority for the force, to consider whether recipients continue to receive the appropriate level of injury benefit and that public money is used most effectively. The review of these entitlements has been subject of Judicial Review at the High Court, where the court found in favour of Staffordshire Police in September 2020 and found the Force’s approach was justified and lawful.

On 11 June 2021 the judge refused the Claimants’ application to appeal the decision.

Staffordshire Police welcomes the clarity that this ruling brings, for how it and other police forces administer injury pension reviews, and for individuals who are subject to these reviews. The Force recognises that this has been a difficult and challenging process for all involved.