POLICE officers are suing bosses at Police Scotland over cuts to their pensions.
Changes to the pension scheme in 2014 mean they will have to work longer, pay more into their pension fund, and will get a greatly reduced final pension pot.
Many of the 1,024 officers bringing an action claim the change, which impacts on younger officers more, is tantamount to age discrimination.
And because younger officers are more likely to be female and from different races, some claims are also being fought on sex and race grounds.
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Traditionally, police officers had one of the most lucrative pension schemes in the country, with many able to retire on two-thirds of final salary after 30 years’ service – some officers were able to retire at just 50 with an annual pension higher than the average UK wage of £27,000-a-year.
The hearings should be heard in Glasgow in the coming months.
Police Scotland said: “Police Scotland is aware of parallel employment tribunal claims against a number of police forces in England and Wales, and is awaiting the outcome of those before it determines its own position.”
Should the officers win, Holyrood would have to draft new regulations as pensions are devolved to the Scottish Government.
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