Commissioner urges Chancellor to think again over pension changes

The Treasury’s recent valuation of the National Police Pension Scheme identified a deficit of £417m annually and ruled that £165m should be met from Police budgets for 2019-20 through an increase in employers’ contributions.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners estimate that nationally this would equate to 4,000 fewer police officers. In North Yorkshire, it is estimated it would cost an additional £4.7m.

The changes would also have an impact on Fire and Rescue services and could cost them an additional £1.4m in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan has now urged the county’s MPs to raise this issue with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary to make them aware of the impact of the decision.

She said:

“We are facing a time of huge financial challenges but have worked hard to reduce the impact these have on front line policing services across North Yorkshire. However, there is no hiding the fact that this decision, which has come out of the blue, will have a significant impact.

“The changes are complex and technical, but their result will be real and easy to see. We need the Chancellor to think again, to recognise that such major changes cannot just be handed to us at such short notice and to appreciate that, should they go ahead, these additional costs will take money from the front line, where it is vitally needed, to a balance sheet.

“In addition, I am committed to fighting the corner of the Fire and Rescue Service in North Yorkshire. While the Fire Authority remain the governing body until next month, this decision will have a significant impact on the service for the future and I will be raising this with Local Government Minister and Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.

“It is the wrong decision at the wrong time and I hope it will be reversed.”