It’s hard to remain oblivious to the consequences of not saving enough for retirement in this job. It’s also impossible to ignore the disparities in the UK pensions system, particularly between the private and public sectors. It doesn’t take much to get me explaining at length to the teachers and civil servants I count as friends why their pension scheme is far superior than almost anything available to the tax-payers who actually pay for said pension fund, and why the cuts they are striking for might not be such a bad idea.
This disparity was thrown into sharp relief this week by a newspaper report revealing that Nottinghamshire police force is to start providing “pensions” worth up to £1,500 each for its retired police dogs. The scheme, which comes into effect next month, will cover the medical bills of the dogs up to a total of £500 a year for the first three years after they leave the force.
Before its introduction, the force paid nothing towards the upkeep of the dogs after their retirement, with the costs being met by their new owners, often their handlers.
Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, who approved the fund, said the dogs had earned the financial support, claiming: “These dogs give willing and sterling service over the years in protecting the public. This will ensure continuing medical help once their work is done.”
Now I don’t doubt for a minute that these animals do a wonderful job and are a major asset to the force. But at a time when the cuts are being made across the public sector and pension provision for humans a shadow of its former self, is introducing a scheme like this the wisest thing to do?
We are very much a nation of dog lovers,so I don’t expect this to go down too well – and of course this is ultimately a subsidy for the handlers or other families who take in the retired animals rather than easy cash for the dogs themselves . However, the story highlights the lack of support for the millions of hard working humans still receive no pension provision from their employers (a group which I can sadly claim membership of). This situation is gradually being addressed, with employees now being automatically enrolled into pension arrangements.
Even then, however, most will exit with nowhere near enough to support them comfortably over the next 20 years or so. To make matters worse the low paid will be exempt entirely, meaning that retired Nottinghamshire police dogs will be better provided for by their employers than many in our society.
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