There are three police pension schemes:

Police Pension Scheme (PPS) 1987

This scheme is governed by the Police Pensions Regulations 1987. It is a final salary scheme where the pension is based on a member’s length of service and the highest
salary in the last three years of service.

The scheme was closed to new members on 6 April 2006.

More information about the scheme can be found in the Members’ Guide to the Police Pension Scheme 1987.

New Police Pension Scheme (NPPS) 2006

This scheme is governed by the Police Pensions Regulations 2006. It is a final salary scheme, where the pension is based on a member’s length of service and the highest salary in the last 10 years of service.

The scheme was open to new members from 6 April 2006 to 31 March 2015.

More information about the scheme can be found in the Members’ Guide to the New Police Pension Scheme 2006.

Police Pension Scheme (PPS) 2015

This scheme is governed by the Police Pensions Regulations 2015. It is a Career Average Revalued-Earnings (CARE) scheme, meaning that the pension is based on a fraction of a member’s salary (1/55.3) for each year and the amount accrued in a year will be revalued each subsequent year until retirement.

All new entrants to the service from 1 April 2015 join this pension scheme. In addition, some PPS 1987 and NPPS 2006 scheme members were required to move across to the PPS 2015 on 1 April 2015 or at a later date (depending on their age and/or length of service).

More information about the scheme can be found in the Members’ Guide to the Police Pension Scheme 2015.

Transitional arrangements and the PPS 2015

Some PPS 1987 and NPPS 2006 members were required to transfer to the PPS 2015 when it came into effect on 1 April 2015. However, those closest to retirement received “full protection” and were able to remain in those schemes until the end of their service. Those within four years of full protection received “tapered protection” and were required to move to the PPS 2015 at a date later than 1 April 2015.

These transitional arrangements are quite complex. However, PFEW has produced an FAQ document which explains the transitional arrangements, the situation (including protections) for members with service in two pension schemes and the provisions of the PPS 2015. The document can be found here.

Produced and issued by Research and Policy Support PFEW HQ - Pensions Updated August 2016