Why do Police and Firemen get to retire at 50?
Why do Police and Firemen get to retire at 50?
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Discussion

G20RG B

Original Poster:

2,749 posts

260 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
A friend told me today that the Police and Firebrigade get to retire on a full pension at something like 50 after 30 odd years service!!
Is this correct?
Are we the taxpayer expected to pay them a good pension from this age and at the same time pay for some one to replace them so a double whammy for the taxpayer. I mean come on 50.. it's nothing you, still have years ahead of you.
Now I know there jobs are challenging but come on is it any more stressfull than most people jobs? I mean these guys have security once they get in the force it's highly unusaul for one to get sacked I mean even the boys who shot the Brazillian on the tube are still working!!!

If there not fit enought to pound the beat stick them in an office job until there 65/66 and lets give the taxpayer some value!!

Mc lovin

5,588 posts

250 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Well i agree for firemen, they have a pretty tough job to do and its not without its risks is it, if you have served 30years then fine.

Police on the other hand, can fk right off, you have to work to claim a pension.

pacman1

7,324 posts

222 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
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You should have posted this in SP&L!
..and then ducked!

GekkoRules

397 posts

251 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
They also contribute a large % of salary into the pension.

Sure there will be a Policeman / Fireman on here who can confirm.

Fittster

20,120 posts

242 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
GekkoRules said:
They also contribute a large % of salary into the pension.
So they would be happy to have a private pension, unless they aren't in fact contributing enough to fund themselves for 35+ years.

illmonkey

19,815 posts

227 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Its not like these people put their life on the line every shift they work for crap pay is it?


ypauly

15,137 posts

229 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
G20RG B said:
A friend told me today that the Police and Firebrigade get to retire on a full pension at something like 50 after 30 odd years service!!
Is this correct?
Are we the taxpayer expected to pay them a good pension from this age and at the same time pay for some one to replace them so a double whammy for the taxpayer. I mean come on 50.. it's nothing you, still have years ahead of you.
Now I know there jobs are challenging but come on is it any more stressfull than most people jobs? I mean these guys have security once they get in the force it's highly unusaul for one to get sacked I mean even the boys who shot the Brazillian on the tube are still working!!!

If there not fit enought to pound the beat stick them in an office job until there 65/66 and lets give the taxpayer some value!!
Couldn't agree more

GekkoRules

397 posts

251 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Fittster said:
GekkoRules said:
They also contribute a large % of salary into the pension.
So they would be happy to have a private pension, unless they aren't in fact contributing enough to fund themselves for 35+ years.
Of course they aren't. There's a limit on fund size you dumb fk.

The point I was making was we, the taxpayer, don't carry the whole cost.

The other factors like - risking your life , having to have something to attract new recruits are also strong arguments for.....

gti tim

1,633 posts

230 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Police have to do 30yrs service before they can retire on a full pension under the old pension scheme.

Under the new scheme it is 35yrs.

If an officer joined at 20, then they would retire at 50.

Bear in mind that not every officer joins at 18. I joined at 26 and therefore will be 61 when i retire. Given the nature of the job we do, the life-expectancy of a police officer is lower than the national average.

What about the forces then? Can retire after 22yrs with full pension can you not? Not everyone who joins sees front line action, there are alot of desk drivers retiring after 22yrs.

6655321

73,668 posts

284 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Its not like these people put their life on the line every shift they work for crap pay is it?
Not renowned for being a dangerous job, is it. Commercial drivers I think have more risk, as do Oil Rig workers, merchant seamen, etc. Danger isn't really a good enough reason.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2195847.stm

(I work at sea by the way, I'm a freaking hero wink)

Edited by 6655321 on Tuesday 20th October 15:15

Dibble

13,276 posts

269 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Employee's contribution to the "old" (30 year) Police pension is 11.5% of salary. I think the contributions to the new one are 9.5%.

GekkoRules

397 posts

251 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
I'm pretty sure thats a larger contribution than most other workers.


Mr E

23,052 posts

288 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Its not like these people put their life on the line every shift they work for crap pay is it?
How many policemen were killed doing their job over the last 5 years?
How many firemen?

gti tim

1,633 posts

230 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Too many?

The figure is irrelevant. if it is 1, it is too many.

Dibble

13,276 posts

269 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
6655321 said:
Not renowned for being a dangerous job, is it. Commercial drivers I think have more risk, as do Oil Rig workers, merchant seamen, etc. Danger isn't really a good enough reason.
Hmmm, let's see... Since I've been in the job, I've been:

  • Shouted and sworn at on a weekly basis by members of the "public".
  • Pushed, spat on, pissed on, kicked, strangled, scratched, bitten, slapped and punched.
  • Petrol bombed and coined/missiled in the last lot of rioting.
  • Threatened with a variety of knives, broken bottles, sticks, metal bars and syringes.
  • Driven at (while I was on foot) and deliberately rammed while I've been in a car.
  • Doused with vomit, blood, faeces, urine, paint, oil and acid.
So yeah, pretty low key all round.

Jgtv

2,130 posts

226 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
In order to keep those the force as full of as many capable, willing, fit and healthy individuals as possible.

Realistically do you honestly begrudge them early retirement than yourself?


Heres something that will piss you off, GP's can retire at 60-65 depending on sex, get a final salary pension (Circa 70k a year) then carry on working the very next day, same practice, same 120K a year salary.
Suddenly the bobbies and firemen don't seam like such a bunch of bds do they.

Tony*T3

20,911 posts

276 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
DO you want your fire engine staffed with guys sufferring arthritis and senial dementia....?


And in terms of the armed forces, the reason the pension off the majority is more complex. When soldiers get older, they are less likely to follow orders without thinking about the consequences. They are more likely to question the legality and morality of what they are being told to do. Its far easier to mould the mind of an 18 year old then it is a 38 year old. Plus you have the rank structure which dictates that you have a 'pyramid' shape in terms of positions available. If you dont force out otherwise perfectly able bodied people at some stage you end up with a 'work force' of old farts, not gung-ho can do youngsters. You dont want the country defended by a bunch of 'seen it all before' types. If you didnt offer reasonably attractive pension terms you couldnt enforce a compulsory early retirement age.



GekkoRules

397 posts

251 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Dibble said:
6655321 said:
Not renowned for being a dangerous job, is it. Commercial drivers I think have more risk, as do Oil Rig workers, merchant seamen, etc. Danger isn't really a good enough reason.
Hmmm, let's see... Since I've been in the job, I've been:

  • Shouted and sworn at on a weekly basis by members of the "public".
  • Pushed, spat on, pissed on, kicked, strangled, scratched, bitten, slapped and punched.
  • Petrol bombed and coined/missiled in the last lot of rioting.
  • Threatened with a variety of knives, broken bottles, sticks, metal bars and syringes.
  • Driven at (while I was on foot) and deliberately rammed while I've been in a car.
  • Doused with vomit, blood, faeces, urine, paint, oil and acid.
So yeah, pretty low key all round.
Would you like to be a Police recruitment guy getting people to join the force?
At least give the poor bds something to look forward to.
Keep up the good work I say. All the folk moaning will probably be the same people moaning there aren't enough Police on the streets.
And before you say " Well we could get more if we didn't pay them such big pensions", no you fking couldn't. Without the pension you couldn't recruit anyone you complete fking morons.


illmonkey

19,815 posts

227 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Mr E said:
illmonkey said:
Its not like these people put their life on the line every shift they work for crap pay is it?
How many policemen were killed doing their job over the last 5 years?
How many firemen?
Do you mean tabloid headlines or actual?

I don't necessary mean killed, but attached, injured etc. My brother is a paramedic, seems to get threatened more than I'd want.

shirt

25,406 posts

230 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Mr E said:
illmonkey said:
Its not like these people put their life on the line every shift they work for crap pay is it?
How many policemen were killed doing their job over the last 5 years?
How many firemen?
according to policememorial.org, 42 police officers were killed on duty in the past 25years. can;t get accurate info. on firefighters but sky news reckons 12 in 12 years.

thats a low rate if you ask me. 35 have been killed where i work in the last 10 years, i reckon construction etc. woukld be even higher.

thats not the point though is it? having to deal with pikey scummers day in day out works more in their favour imo.

someone mentioned the forces, don't you get out on full pension in 12yrs if a mil pilot?

personally i think the very fact they receive a public funded [and therefore virtually guaranteed] pension is incentive enough and they should do 40yrs service before receiving it.