'No Tax' Call On Police Reserve Gratuity

A commitment made prior to the devolution of policing and justice on gratuity payments for part time officers who served (mainly) in the RUC Reserve is about to be fulfilled.

The Stormont Justice Minister David Ford has today published the details of the scheme for the police Part Time Reserve who said that 'ring-fenced funding' of £20m has been provided by HM Treasury for the administration and payment.

As a call was made to exclude all such payments from tax or national insurance deductions, Mr Ford said the scheme would be open to former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (George Cross) Part Time Reserve as well as current or past members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Part Time Reserve (known as Police Officer Part Time) who joined before the end of October 2009.

It will also be available for the surviving spouse or partner of a deceased officer if they are eligible to apply.

David Ford said: "In October 2009 the Prime Minister wrote to the First Minister advising that in the event of devolution HM Government will provide ring-fenced funding of £20m for the establishment of a scheme to make payment of a gratuity to members of the Part Time Reserve.

"Upon devolution the terms of that scheme were passed to me as Minister of Justice to administer.

"Gratuity payments are to be made in recognition of the particular circumstances of those who volunteered to serve in the Police Part Time Reserve, making themselves vulnerable within the community for the safety of others, with the accompanying risks and the demonstration of civic spirit which that volunteering exhibited," he said.

The DUP Leader and Stormont First Minister, Peter Robinson has welcomed the announcement and said: "This represents the outworking of a deal the DUP reached with the previous Government.

"Our police officers who served in the Part Time Reserve deserve recognition for their sacrifice and dedication to duty down through the years. I am glad that a scheme has now been devised and the processing of applications can commence," he said, this afternoon.

"The DUP secured a commitment to make £20m available for recognition payments and the announcement represents the fulfilment of the undertakings.

"However, we have been making representations to the Treasury regarding the payments being subject to Tax and National Insurance.

"Whilst other similar payments to the RUC and the RIR were granted special status it would be very disappointing if the Conservative-Lib coalition did not make similar provision for the Part Time Reserve," he said.

It is believed that the level of payment for each applicant will be administered on a points system depending on length of service. The amount of money attached to each point will depend on the number of successful claimants after applications have closed.

More information on eligibility and downloadable application forms are available at: www.ptrgratuity.com

The closing date for applications is 4 February 2011.

Applications are also available by writing to: PPS Division Po Box 1280, Holywood, BT18 8BF or by calling 0800 1313389 (freephone).

(BMcC/GK)