30+ Retention Scheme

We centrally administer the 30+ retention scheme and offer assistance and advice on best practice to forces. This page offers a general introduction, further reading and administrative updates.

The 30+ scheme is a management tool for forces to retain officers with valuable skills and experience in the police service otherwise lost to retirement. It affects officers who have become eligible to retire with a maximum police pension, namely those with thirty or more (30+) years service.

In effect, the scheme grants an officer early access to their pension lump sum whilst continuing to serve as an attested officer.

However, the scheme is not suitable for every officer. It is important for officers to be aware of  the conditions of service that change before signing up.

The Benefits for the Force:

  • Valuable skills and experience can be retained
  • More time for succession planning
  • More time to finish a specific project
  • Potential savings

The Benefits for the Officer:

  • Tax-free retirement lump sum (under the police pension commutation provisions)
  • No more police pension contributions payable.
  • Any replacement allowances lost through retirement are covered by a partial pension payment.
  • Still eligible for promotion.
  • Still eligible for Special Priority Payments (SPP) and Competency Related Threshold Payments (CRTP).

Facts to Consider:

  • Not all forces operate the scheme.
  • All appointments are subject to annual review. 
  • Because of the annual review process, an officer's 30+ retention may be 'cut short'.
  • Pensions are fixed at the point of retirement, i.e. any promotions, SPP or CRTP payments whilst on 30+ will not effect final pension.
  • The scheme comes under review in 2008 (see below). 

Eligibility:

  • Entering the scheme is not automatic but through application only.
  • Open to all ranks below ACPO level.
  • The applicant must be eligible to retire with an immediate maximum police pension.
  • Management must be able to make a justifiable case for retention on 30+.

If you are a police officer interested in the scheme and would like more information, please contact your force's 30+ administrator.

back to top

The 2008 Scheme Review

The scheme was given approval by Her Majesty's Treasury to run until 31 March 2010 under the condition that its effectiveness and use is reviewed in 2008. The review was conducted in spring 2008 throughout England, Scotland and Wales and the results will be available shortly.

Due to an increasing number of late joiners to the police service, higher compulsory retirement ages (CRAs) and the New Police Pension Scheme 2006, which now requires 35 years service before receiving a maximum pension, there is a potentially reduced operational need for this scheme today. If this is found to be the case, it may be closed to new entrants even before 2010. More guidance will be made available once any such decision is reached.

Best-Practice Guidance

The scheme is based on original guidance ratified by the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) in 2002.  The PNB defined the objectives of these arrangements as follows:

  • To help ease possible recruitment shortfalls, helping police numbers rise to, and be sustained at, a higher level;
  • To smooth out recruitment bulges, and avoid corresponding retirement bulges in future;
  • To help retain much needed skills and experience in the service.

Following the national roll-out of the scheme in April 2004 an updated agreement was ratified by the PNB in August 2007. This guidance replaces any previously issued guidance and is available for download. It outlines minimum best practice levels for the administration of the scheme and forces have the ability to adjust the scheme according to local needs.

If you are an officer considering joining the scheme or are already on it, please contact your force administrator for more detailed information.

The 2007 Scheme Survey

Every year information is collected centrally on how the scheme is operated and used in English and Welsh forces. The report on the results of the 2007 survey is available for download.

back to top