New 30+ (PLUS) 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.

In light of the 2008 NPIA Review of the 30+ Scheme and consideration by the Police Negotiating Board, the Scheme is to close to new entrants on the 31st March 2010. The closure of the Scheme will have no effect on the conditions of service for officers already on it and forces should continue to manage those officers using the existing guidance which can be found here and within the Downloads box on the right-hand side.

As of 1st April 2010 the Home Office will introduce a new scheme, 30+ PLUS. Full details of the new replacement scheme can be accessed here and within the Downloads box on the right-hand side.  As with the 30+ Scheme, the NPIA will continue to provide central advice and guidance for the new scheme and facilitate the sharing of noteworthy practice across the forces of England and Wales.

This page offers a general introduction, further reading and administrative updates. You may also wish to contact an NPIA representative for assistance. See below for contact details.

The 30+ PLUS scheme is a resource management tool for forces to allow retention of police officers with valuable skills and experience and who would otherwise be lost to retirement. It applies officers who have become eligible to retire with a maximum police pension, namely those with thirty or more years' reckonable service.  

In effect, as with the old arrangement, the new Scheme grants an officer early access to their pension lump sum whilst continuing to serve as an attested officer. However, the Scheme may not suitable for every officer. It is important for officers to be aware of the changes to the conditions of service before signing up.

The Benefits to the Force:

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

The Benefits to the Officer:

  • Tax-free retirement lump sum - under the police pension commutation provisions
  • No more police pension contributions in service
  • Still eligible for promotion.
  • Still eligible for Special Priority Payments (SPP) and Competency Related Threshold Payments (CRTP)

Consideration for Forces:

  • It will be for individual forces to decide whether to operate the scheme
  • All appointments are subject to an annual review 
  • Because of the annual review process, which inherently includes an assessment of the business need, 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 will be periodically reviewed by the NPIA  

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Entering the scheme is not automatic but through application only
  • The scheme is open to officers up to and including Chief Superintendent
  • Applicants must be eligible to retire with an immediate maximum police pension
  • Management must be able to make a justifiable case for retention on the 30+ PLUS Scheme

Existing 30+ Officers:

As stated above, officers serving on the pre-existing 30+ Scheme should not be affected by the introduction of the new Scheme. Forces should continue to manage them in accordance with the existing 30+ best practice guidance.

Data Returns

The NPIA must be notified by the 30+ PLUS force administrator of new participants and officers who will no longer be retained. This should be done on a quarterly basis.  This information should be sent electronically through the relevant page of the NPIA website using the template in Annex I of the guidance (the final Annex in the document).
 
Quarterly returns will be due on:

- 30th June
- 30th September
- 31st December
- 31st March

All quarterly returns and queries relating to the 30+ and the 30+ PLUS schemes should be directed to Matt.johnston@npia.pnn.police.uk.

Contact Details

Matt Johnston  - Matt.johnston@npia.pnn.police.uk

    Senior Policy Manager
    Workforce Strategy Unit
    People and Development Directorate
    National Policing Improvement Agency

10th Floor, New King's Beam House
22 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9QY

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7021 7066

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