Current schemes

There are currently two pension schemes that police officers can belong to. The schemes are statutory schemes based on the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 and the Police Pensions Regulations 2006 (both as amended), made under the Police Pensions Act 1976.

1987 pension scheme

The 1987 Police Pension Scheme (PPS) applies to all serving police officers who joined the service before 6 April 2006, unless they decided to opt out.

The main features of PPS include:

• officer contributes either 12.25 or 12.5 per cent of salary each month
• maximum pension of two thirds of the final salary with option to commute up to 25 per cent of the pension for a lump sum
• maximum pension after 30 years' service 
• dual accrual rate of 1/60 of final salary for each year of service for the first 20 years and then an accelerated rate of 2/60 of final salary for each year of service thereafter (to a maximum of 40/60)
• pensions can be paid to dependants if appropriate conditions are satisfied

2006 pension scheme

The 2006 Police Pension Scheme (NPPS) applies to all serving police officers who joined the service on or after 6 April 2006, unless they decided to opt out, and anyone who decides to transfer from the PPS.

The main features of NPPS include:

• officer contributes between 10.1 and 10.75 per cent of salary each month
• maximum pension of half the final salary plus a fixed lump sum of four times the pension, with option to give up part or all of the lump sum for additional annual pension
• maximum pension after 35 years' service, which can be taken from age 55 
• single accrual rate of 1/70 of final salary for each year of service (to a maximum of 35/70) - no accelerated accrual rate after 20 years
• pensions for life for adult survivors
• pensions can also be paid to partners who are neither married nor civil partners if appropriate conditions are satisfied

Administration

The schemes are administered locally in each police force area. Costs are met partly from the contributions of currently serving officers. Financing arrangements from 6 April 2006 mean that each force has a separate pensions account.

More information

You can find out more detailed information on both schemes by following the links on the right. You can also access the PPS members' guide or the NPPS members guide to find out more.

Contact your administrator

The Home Office does not administer the police pension scheme - this is done on a local basis in each police force area.

If you are a serving or retired police officer and want more information on your personal pension, please contact the pensions administrator for your force. The list of police pensions administrator contacts gives contact details for the pensions administrators for each of the 43 forces in England and Wales. Your force's human resources department will also be able to provide you with the relevant contact details.

Other police officers in England and Wales who are not members of one of the 43 territorial forces (e.g. British Transport Police, MoD Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary) are not part of the police pension schemes, so should contact their force's human resources department.