The Selected Medical
Practitioner Process
The SMP is the doctor whose report decides whether you are permanently unfit, whether a duty injury caused it and which injury award band you fall in. Here is who refers you, exactly which questions the SMP answers, what the report means and how to challenge it.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 7 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
The selected medical practitioner is a doctor chosen by your police pension authority to decide the medical questions under the pension and injury regulations: whether you are permanently unfit for police duties or any regular work, whether a duty injury caused the disablement, and the degree of disablement. The report is final unless you appeal within 28 days of receiving it (or a longer period the authority allows) or both sides agree to a reconsideration.
The SMP's answer on the degree of disablement decides your injury award band. The injury award calculator shows the gratuity and injury pension for every band with your own pay and service, so you can see what each answer would mean, and the ill-health retirement calculator does the same for the lower and upper tier. Neither can predict the SMP's decision.
What a selected medical practitioner is
The phrase comes straight from the regulations. Where the police pension authority is considering whether a person is permanently disabled, it "shall refer for decision to a duly qualified medical practitioner selected by them" the questions listed in regulation 30(2) of the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006. Schedule 1 to the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 defines the selected medical practitioner as a single duly qualified medical practitioner, or a board of them, selected by the police pension authority.
Three features follow from the regulations:
- The SMP decides, not advises. Their decision on the questions referred is "final", subject only to appeal and reconsideration (PIBR reg 30(6); PPR 2015 reg 81(3)). The authority is bound by it.
- Only the questions referred. The SMP answers the questions the authority puts, nothing more. Two different "default" questions show how this works. Whether an injury was received without your default (not wholly or mainly due to your own serious and culpable negligence or misconduct, regulation 6(4)) is not on the list in regulation 30(2); archived Home Office guidance treated it as a question for the authority, though the regulations do not say so expressly. Whether you brought about or substantially contributed to the disablement by your own default, which lets the authority reduce an award by up to half under regulation 38, is a question the authority can refer to the SMP (regulation 30(4)).
- A board is possible. The authority may refer the questions to a board of doctors instead of one (regulation 30(5)). Archived Home Office guidance suggested this for complex cases with more than one condition.
The police pension authority is the chief officer of your force. Since SI 2011/3063 the injury regulations say "police pension authority" where they used to say "police authority". In practice the decisions are taken by HR or pensions staff with delegated authority: the GMP toolkit we read gives that role to its Head of HR Operations, and the Surrey and Sussex policy to its Director of People Services.
The SMP, occupational health and everyone else
Several doctors and teams can be involved, and mixing them up causes a lot of worry. The SMP is the only one whose medical decision binds the authority.
| Who | Role | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Your GP and treating specialists | Treat you and provide records and reports | Their evidence is often the most important material the SMP reads |
| Occupational health (force medical adviser) | Advises the force on fitness, adjustments and whether to refer | Archived Home Office guidance: the FMA's advice should 'inform not determine' the SMP's decision |
| Selected medical practitioner | Decides the medical questions the authority refers | A 'duly qualified medical practitioner selected by' the authority (PIBR reg 30(2)) |
| Police pension authority | Refers the questions, decides non-medical points, retires or retains you, makes the award | The chief officer; in practice HR or a pensions team acting with delegated authority |
| Board of medical referees (appeal board) | Hears appeals against SMP decisions | At least three doctors, one a specialist in a relevant condition |
| Pension administrator | Calculates and pays pensions and awards | Not a decision-maker on the medical questions |
The Surrey and Sussex policy says the SMP will usually be a different person from the occupational health physician, though in some cases, such as critical illness, the occupational health physician may act as SMP. The archived Home Office guidance said the SMP's report should confirm that the SMP had not dealt with the case before. For what occupational health can share about you, see telling occupational health about your mental health.
How you get referred to an SMP
Referral is the authority's step, not yours, but you can ask for it. Common routes:
- Serving officer, possible ill-health retirement. Before considering compulsory retirement the authority "must refer" the questions in regulation 81 to an SMP. Forces normally route this through occupational health. The Surrey and Sussex policy says ill-health retirement is considered only once workplace adjustments and redeployment have been exhausted, and that an officer can also ask the authority directly.
- Former officer claiming an injury award. You tell the authority, in writing, that you consider you are permanently disabled by a duty injury. The GMP toolkit describes HR first checking records that an injury on duty occurred, then preparing an earnings assessment and a report for the SMP. Where there is doubt whether the injury happened, it says the doubt should be resolved in the officer's favour and the case referred.
- Deferred member seeking early payment on health grounds. The same four questions go to the SMP under regulation 86 of the 2015 regulations.
- Reviews. For an injury pension review the authority refers the degree of disablement only; for 2015 ill-health pension reviews it refers the questions in regulation 117.
The regulations allow either. Archived Home Office guidance said the injury questions could be put with the permanence questions or separately. Force policies differ: the Surrey and Sussex policy says the authority will not consider an injury award at the same time as medical retirement where further enquiries are needed, and that a substantiated award is backdated to retirement. Ask your force which approach it takes. The Court of Appeal in Kelly (2021) held that where an officer was retired because of the disablement, the injury pension is payable from retirement even if decided later.
Exactly which questions the SMP decides
The questions depend on why you were referred. Getting them right matters, because the SMP may only answer what is asked, and the 28-day appeal is against the answers in the report.
| Situation | Questions | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Ill-health retirement, 2015 scheme (serving officer) | (a) medically unfit for the ordinary duties of a police officer? (b) likely to be permanent? (c) medically unfit for any regular employment? (d) likely to be permanent? | PPR 2015 reg 81(1) |
| Early payment of a 2015 deferred pension on health grounds | The same four questions | PPR 2015 reg 86(1) |
| Injury award, permanence not yet decided | (a) disabled? (b) likely to be permanent? (c) is the disablement the result of an injury received in the execution of duty? (d) the degree of disablement | PIBR reg 30(2) |
| Injury award after ill-health retirement | Questions (c) and (d) only, where permanence has already been decided | PIBR reg 30(2); a final decision on permanence is binding |
| Review of an injury pension | Question (d) only: the degree of disablement | PIBR reg 30(2), reg 37 |
| Total disablement gratuity (regulation 12) | Totally disabled? Likely to be permanent? Result of a duty injury? The date total disablement began | PIBR reg 30(3) |
| Reduction for default | Whether you brought about or substantially contributed to the disablement by your own default | PIBR reg 30(4) |
| Review of a 2015 lower or upper tier pension | Whether you are still unfit for police duties, and whether you are (still) unfit for any regular employment | PPR 2015 reg 117 |
Some definitions the SMP must apply:
- Permanent (2015 scheme). The SMP must find the inability "likely to continue" until normal pension age, or death if that is likely to come first (regulation 76). Normal pension age for police is 60.
- Treatment. You are assumed to receive normal appropriate medical treatment, which does not include treatment the authority decides it is reasonable for you to refuse (PPR 2015 reg 75; PIBR reg 7(3)).
- Infirmity. A disease, injury or medical condition, including a mental disorder, injury or condition (PPR 2015 reg 74; PIBR reg 7(8)).
- Result of an injury. The injury must have "caused or substantially contributed to" the disablement (PIBR reg 8). It need not be the only cause.
- Degree of disablement. Decided by how far the duty injury has affected your earning capacity (regulation 7(5); regulation 7A(5) for 2015 members). See the earnings assessment guide.
What happens at the assessment
The 2015 regulations say the SMP must "examine or interview the member as the selected medical practitioner thinks appropriate" (regulation 81(2)). There is no fixed format. From the regulations and the force documents we read, you can expect:
- A file sent to the SMP. Occupational health records and, with your consent, GP and specialist records. For injury awards, the GMP toolkit lists the application, sickness history, personal file documents, any records of the incident, the result of a check with the force's civil litigation team, and the earnings assessment.
- An interview and, if needed, an examination. The archived guidance said the SMP will normally examine the officer, but may decide on the papers if everyone agrees.
- Further opinions. The SMP can ask for specialist reports or tests. The Surrey and Sussex policy says you are required to attend appointments arranged for that purpose.
- Testing the evidence. Archived guidance told SMPs not to accept evidence uncritically from either side and to decide facts on the balance of probabilities.
- The degree of disablement. For injury awards, the SMP considers which jobs on the earnings assessment are medically suitable and how many hours you could work, then fixes the percentage. In Goodland the court recorded that, in practice, the SMP compares what you could earn now with what you would have earned had you stayed in service.
In Goodland (2020), pensioners who refused to complete questionnaires or allow access to their medical records had their reviews decided by the authority under regulation 33, and the High Court upheld that on the facts. Before refusing any request for records, ask what is needed and why, offer what is relevant, and take advice.
The SMP's report and what it means
- Form. The decision must be expressed in a report (PIBR reg 30(6); PPR 2015 reg 81(2)(c)). Many forces use a certificate as well; the GMP toolkit refers to an SMP certificate recording the band.
- Copy to you. Regulation 30(7) requires a copy to be supplied to you. Under the 2015 regulations the SMP gives the report to the authority and to you.
- Final. The report is final, subject to appeal and reconsideration. In Laws (2010) the Court of Appeal said finality covers "the essential judgment or judgments" on which the decision is based, not just the percentage.
- Binding on later questions. A final decision on permanence made under the pension regulations binds the injury award process (PIBR reg 30(2)), so the injury questions often start from the retirement report.
The Surrey and Sussex policy says officers are sent the report and invited to comment on its factual accuracy before the authority decides. That is force practice, not a regulation. Whatever your force does, the 28-day appeal clock starts when you receive the report: note the date, and use the appeal deadline calculator to work out the notice and grounds deadlines.
After the report: who decides what next
| SMP finding | What happens next | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Not permanently unfit for police duties | No ill-health retirement. You stay in service (with adjustments) or the force uses other procedures. | PPR 2015 regs 81, 82 |
| Permanently unfit for police duties, but not for any regular employment | The authority may retire you on a lower tier pension, or require you to keep serving. | PPR 2015 regs 82, 101(1) |
| Permanently unfit for any regular employment | If retired, you get the lower tier plus the enhanced upper tier pension. | PPR 2015 regs 101(2), 102(3) |
| Disablement results from a duty injury, with a degree of disablement | The authority makes an injury award: gratuity plus injury pension for that band. | PIBR regs 11, 30, Sch 3 |
| Disablement does not result from a duty injury | No injury award. Any ill-health pension is unaffected. | PIBR reg 11 |
If the authority requires you to keep serving after a finding of permanent unfitness for police duties, it can later refer you back to an SMP to consider whether the unfitness has ceased or changed significantly (regulation 83). If you are retired and then win an appeal showing you were not permanently unfit, the retirement is void (regulation 84).
Attending, rescheduling and refusing
Both sets of regulations deal with non-attendance in the same way. If the person "wilfully or negligently fails to submit himself to such medical examination or to attend such interviews" as the SMP considers necessary, the authority may decide the question itself on such evidence and medical advice as it thinks necessary (PIBR reg 33; PPR 2015 regs 77 and 118). On an appeal, non-attendance means the appeal is treated as withdrawn.
- If an appointment clashes with treatment, ill health or care responsibilities, say so in writing straight away and ask for another date. A documented reason makes it much less likely that missing the appointment would be treated as a wilful or negligent failure.
- If travel is a problem because of your condition, ask about remote or local options. The Surrey and Sussex policy mentions arrangements for people living abroad.
- You can ask to bring someone for support. We found nothing in the regulations on this for an SMP appointment, so ask the SMP provider or your force in advance. On an appeal, only doctors may be present for any examination (PIBR Schedule 6 paragraph 5(3)).
How to prepare
The printable SMP appointment checklist turns the points below into a list you can tick off and take with you.
- Ask the authority, in writing, which questions have been referred to the SMP and what documents the SMP has.
- Ask your GP and treating specialists for up-to-date reports covering diagnosis, treatment tried, prognosis and functional limits.
- For an injury award, ask for the earnings assessment and the comparator jobs, and comment on them in writing.
- Write a short, factual timeline: the incident or exposure, symptoms, treatment, absences, duties you could and could not do.
- Keep a copy of everything you send and everything you receive, outside force systems.
- Describe a typical day and your worst days accurately, not only how you feel on the day.
- If your condition fluctuates, say so and point to evidence of it.
- Be accurate about work you could do and the hours you could manage; the degree of disablement depends on it.
- Never exaggerate or play anything down. The SMP is told to test evidence, and your credibility matters at any appeal.
Your Federation or staff association representative can help you prepare. For a dispute about entitlement or banding, consider a solicitor who handles police pension and injury cases.
If you are a Police Federation member, start with your branch. The Police Federation of England and Wales says it assists members through the ill-health retirement process, has branch representatives trained in it, and represents members at Police Medical Appeal Boards. It also says this advice can be given at no cost to members, so ask what your branch offers before paying for advice. Funding for a solicitor is by application and decided case by case. Find your local Federation branch.
Other organisations that help officers in this position:
- Injury On Duty Pensioners Association (IODPA): a registered charity offering support and signposting (not legal advice) on ill-health retirement, injury pension claims and reviews.
- Police Care UK: a charity offering emotional, practical and financial support to serving and former officers, staff, volunteers and their families.
- NARPO (National Association of Retired Police Officers): for retired officers, with guidance on injury pensions and reviews. It tells members facing a review to approach their local Federation first.
Checked on each organisation's own website on 7 October 2026. PolicePay is independent and has no link with any of them; we list them because they help officers in this situation.
Challenging an SMP decision
- Appeal to a board of medical referees. Notice within 28 days of receiving the report, or a longer period the authority allows; grounds within a further 28 days (PIBR reg 31; PPR 2015 Sch 1 para 2). The board is at least three doctors including a relevant specialist.
- Reconsideration by agreement. You and the authority can agree to send a final decision back to the SMP, for example if new evidence has come to light (PIBR reg 32(2); PPR 2015 Sch 1 para 3). The authority does not have to agree.
- Crown Court. For a refusal to admit a claim, or to pay a larger award, on non-medical grounds. The court is bound by final medical decisions but can send one back if the evidence was inaccurate or inadequate (PIBR regs 32(1), 34, 36).
- Judicial review. For a decision that is wrong in law, unfair or irrational. The claim must be brought promptly and in any event within 3 months (Civil Procedure Rules 54.5); take legal advice straight away.
The appeal deadline calculator gives you both 28-day dates from the day you received the report. Full detail, including the evidence deadlines and costs rules, is in the appeals guide. For how long each stage tends to take, see how long it takes.
If you are in the 1987 or 2006 scheme
The injury award questions are the same for every scheme, because the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006 cover members of all three. The ill-health retirement questions come from your own pension scheme:
- 1987 scheme. Archived Home Office guidance set out the referral under regulation H1 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987: whether the person is disabled and whether the disablement is likely to be permanent, with the authority deciding entitlement. It also said the authority had a discretion under regulation A20 not to retire an officer assessed as permanently disabled, taking account of factors such as the officer's capability to complete a police career and the officer's wishes.
- 2006 scheme. The Police Pensions Regulations 2006 have their own referral provisions. SI 2018/997 amended regulation 30(2) of the injury regulations so that it refers to regulation 71 of the 2006 regulations in place of regulation 69, and added the 2015 scheme provisions.
- Binding effect across the two sets of regulations. Regulation 30(2) of the injury regulations says that where permanence has been decided under the pension regulations, a final decision of the medical authority on those questions is binding for the injury award. The same SMP report can therefore matter twice.
If you have service in more than one scheme, ask the authority which regulations it is referring the questions under, and keep the referral letter with the report.
This page covers England and Wales. Scotland has its own Police (Injury Benefit) (Scotland) Regulations 2007, with the same injury award table and a similar SMP and appeal process (non-medical appeals go to the sheriff). In Northern Ireland the PSNI injury benefit regulations (SR 2006/268) apply and the Northern Ireland Policing Board decides. From 2 July 2024 the SMP, and the Independent Medical Referee who hears appeals, must have regard to the Board's guidance to medical practitioners on injury on duty awards and must hold at least the Associate of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine qualification (SR 2024/147).
Getting copies and information
| Document | Your entitlement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The SMP's report (injury award) | A copy must be supplied to you | PIBR reg 30(7) |
| The SMP's report (2015 scheme ill-health) | The SMP gives the report to the authority and to you | PPR 2015 regs 81(2)(c), 86(2)(c), 117(7) |
| A fresh report after reconsideration | A copy must be given to you and the scheme manager | PPR 2015 Sch 1 para 3(5) |
| The appeal board's report | A copy must be given to you; a revised report if the board disagrees with the SMP | PIBR Sch 6 para 6; PPR 2015 Sch 1 paras 2(6), 8(8) to (10) |
| The force medical adviser's advice to the SMP | Archived Home Office guidance said copies should go to the authority and the officer | Archived guidance, section 2 (withdrawn) |
| The earnings assessment (injury awards) | No regulation requires it, but one force's toolkit sends it to the applicant for feedback | GMP HR toolkit, section 3.4 |
Ask for the whole referral file, not only the report: the questions referred, the documents the SMP saw, any earnings assessment and any further specialist opinion. You need them to decide whether to appeal within the 28 days.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SMP (selected medical practitioner) | The doctor, or board of doctors, chosen by the police pension authority to decide the medical questions |
| Police pension authority | The chief officer of the force, acting as employer or scheme manager; in practice HR or pensions staff with delegated authority |
| FMA / OH | Force medical adviser and occupational health: advise the force on fitness and adjustments |
| Board of medical referees / appeal board / PMAB | At least three doctors who hear appeals against SMP decisions |
| Permanently medically unfit (2015 scheme) | Unfit, and likely to remain so until normal pension age or death |
| Lower tier / upper tier | Unfit for police duties only / also unfit for any regular employment |
| Degree of disablement | How far a duty injury has affected your earning capacity, as a percentage; 'band 1 to 4' is common shorthand for its four ranges |
| Reconsideration | Sending a final medical decision back to the SMP or board by agreement between you and the authority |
| IRMP | Independent registered medical practitioner: assesses police staff under the Local Government Pension Scheme, a different process |
What people get wrong
- "The SMP works for the force, so it is a formality." The SMP is chosen and paid by the authority, but the court in Goodland described the role as otherwise independent, and the authority is bound by the decision.
- "Occupational health has already decided." Occupational health advises; the SMP decides the referred questions.
- "The SMP decides whether I retire." The SMP decides the medical questions; the authority then decides whether to retire you (regulation 82).
- "I can argue about the report later." The medical answers become final unless you give notice of appeal within 28 days of receiving the report (or a longer period the authority allows), or you and the authority agree to a reconsideration.
- "Missing the appointment buys time." It can let the authority decide without the SMP, or end an appeal.
- "The SMP looks at the injury, not my job prospects." For an injury award the degree of disablement is about earning capacity, so your skills, hours and job options are part of it.
What we could not verify
- Who your force uses as SMP. There is no national list. The Greater Manchester Police documents we read name Optima Health; other forces use other providers or individual doctors.
- Bringing a support person. We found no rule in the regulations on whether someone can accompany you to an SMP appointment.
- Who decides "default" under regulation 6(4). The regulations do not say expressly whether this is for the authority or the SMP.
- Current national guidance. The Home Office medical appeal guidance, which also described the SMP's role, was withdrawn in 2022. We cite it only as a record of past practice.
- Timescales. The regulations set none for the SMP. Force practice and provider workload decide them.
- Whether you can record the appointment. We found nothing in the regulations on this. Ask the SMP provider in advance.
- 1987 and 2006 scheme detail. This page sets out the injury regulations and the 2015 scheme in detail. The 1987 and 2006 schemes have their own referral provisions, which we did not set out here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SMP in the police?
A selected medical practitioner: a duly qualified doctor chosen by the police pension authority to decide the medical questions in ill-health retirement and injury award cases (regulation 30(2), Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006; Part 6 and Schedule 1, Police Pensions Regulations 2015). The authority can choose a board of doctors instead of one SMP.
Is the SMP the same as occupational health?
No. Occupational health advises your force on fitness and adjustments. The SMP decides specific questions under the pension and injury regulations and gives a report that is final unless appealed or reconsidered. Archived Home Office guidance said the force medical adviser's advice should inform, not determine, the SMP's assessment.
Is the SMP independent of my force?
The High Court in Goodland (2020) described the SMP as appointed by, but otherwise independent of, the police pension authority. The authority chooses the SMP and pays for the service. Some forces use an external occupational health provider; the Greater Manchester Police documents we read name Optima Health.
What questions does the SMP answer for ill-health retirement?
In the 2015 scheme: whether you are medically unfit for the ordinary duties of a police officer, whether that is likely to be permanent, whether you are medically unfit for any regular employment, and whether that is likely to be permanent (regulation 81). Permanent means likely to continue until normal pension age or death (regulation 76).
What questions does the SMP answer for an injury award?
Whether you are disabled, whether it is likely to be permanent, whether the disablement is the result of an injury received in the execution of duty, and the degree of disablement (regulation 30(2)). If permanence was already decided at retirement, only the last two are usually referred.
Who decides whether I am ill-health retired, the SMP or the force?
Both. The SMP decides the medical questions. If the report says you are permanently unfit for police duties, the police pension authority considers all the circumstances and may retire you or require you to keep serving (regulation 82, Police Pensions Regulations 2015).
Do I have to attend the SMP appointment?
If you wilfully or negligently fail to attend an interview or examination the SMP considers necessary, the authority can decide the question itself on the evidence and advice it thinks necessary (regulation 33 PIBR; regulation 77 PPR 2015). If you cannot attend, say so in writing and ask for another date.
Will I get a copy of the SMP report?
Yes. Regulation 30(7) of the injury regulations says a copy must be supplied to you, and the 2015 regulations require the SMP to give the authority and the member a report containing the decision (regulation 81(2)(c)). The 28-day appeal clock runs from when you receive it.
Can I challenge an SMP decision?
Yes. Give notice of appeal within 28 days of receiving the report (or any longer period the authority allows), then grounds within a further 28 days. The appeal goes to a board of at least three doctors. You and the authority can also agree to send the decision back to the SMP for reconsideration.
Can I send my own medical evidence to the SMP?
Nothing in the regulations stops you, and reports from your treating specialists are usually central. Ask the force how to submit them so they reach the SMP before the decision. On appeal, written evidence must reach the board and the other side at least 35 days before the hearing.
What is the difference between an SMP and an IQMP?
IQMP is not a term used in the police officer regulations, which speak of a selected medical practitioner (SMP). Police staff are in the Local Government Pension Scheme and are assessed by an independent registered medical practitioner (IRMP) under different rules, as the Surrey and Sussex medical retirement policy sets out.
How long does the SMP take?
The regulations set no time limit for the SMP. Timescales depend on your force, the SMP provider and whether specialist reports are needed. Our timescales guide sets out the fixed time limits and the force data we found.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 7 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006, regulations 30 to 36 (legislation.gov.uk, as made) — questions referred to the SMP, board instead of one doctor (30(5)), report final and copied to you (30(6), (7)), appeal, reconsideration, refusal to attend, Crown Court (accessed 7 October 2026)
- SI 2018/997, regulations 10 and 19 (legislation.gov.uk) — regulation 7A disablement test for 2015 scheme members; references to the 2015 regulations added to regulation 30(2) (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, Part 6 (revised, legislation.gov.uk) — infirmity and medical unfitness (74), permanence (75), what the SMP must decide (76), refusal to attend (77), referral (81), retire or retain (82, 83) (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, regulations 110 to 119 — reviews of ill-health pensions and the questions referred to the SMP (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015, Schedule 1 — definition of selected medical practitioner; appeal and reconsideration (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Home Office: Guidance on medical appeals, section 2 (archived 31 August 2022) — role of the force medical adviser and the SMP; injury award considered with or after retirement. Withdrawn guidance, cited for history and practice only (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Home Office: Guidance on medical appeals, section 4 (archived 31 August 2022) — default is for the authority; SMP to test evidence on the balance of probabilities (accessed 7 October 2026)
- R (Goodland) v Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police [2020] EWHC 2477 (Admin) — SMP appointed by but otherwise independent of the authority; regulation 33 where records are withheld (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police Authority v Laws [2010] EWCA Civ 1099 — finality of SMP and board reports includes the essential judgments behind them (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Greater Manchester Police FOI 01/FOI/25/014281/L and Police Officer Injury Award HR Toolkit (March 2025) — one force's process: HR file, earnings assessment, report to an external SMP (accessed 7 October 2026)
- PSNI and PSNI Reserve (Injury Benefit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SR 2024/147) — Northern Ireland: from 2 July 2024 SMPs and Independent Medical Referees must have regard to the Policing Board's guidance and hold at least AFOM. Read 7 October 2026 (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Police (Injury Benefit) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/68) — Scotland: same Schedule 3 table; non-medical appeals to the sheriff (reg 34) (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Surrey Police and Sussex Police: Managing Police Officer and Police Staff Medical Retirement Policy (542/2025) — one force pair's process; SMP usually separate from the occupational health physician (accessed 7 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. This page is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice, and the outcome of any injury award or ill-health retirement decision turns on the medical evidence and the facts of the individual case. Decisions are made by the police pension authority, selected medical practitioners and appeal boards, and the regulations are amended from time to time. Speak to your Police Federation representative or a solicitor about your own case, and your pension administrator about your figures. If you are struggling, speak to your GP or one of the services listed on our support directory; if you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 7 October 2026.