PP Police Pay

What Happens to My Police Pension
if I’m Dismissed?

A clear, regulation-based explanation of how dismissal, gross misconduct, and criminal conviction affect police pension rights in the UK.

Definitive Regulation Guide
Trust Notice

Independent explanation of Police Pension Regulations. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with any police force, Home Office, or pension administrator.

Executive Summary

Being dismissed from the police service does not automatically mean you lose your pension.

Pension forfeiture is:

Rare
Regulated
Not automatic
Usually linked to serious criminal conviction

In most cases:

Even if dismissed for gross misconduct, accrued pension rights remain protected.

However, in certain circumstances involving criminal offences connected to service, pension forfeiture can occur. Understanding the difference is critical.

The
Short Answer

If you are dismissed:

You keep pension you have already earned
Your accrual stops
Benefits become deferred (if not yet payable)

You do NOT automatically lose pension for:

  • Gross misconduct dismissal
  • Performance dismissal
  • Resignation under investigation
  • Retirement following misconduct
Forfeiture requires additional legal thresholds.
Legal Definition

What Is Pension Forfeiture?

Pension forfeiture is the legal power to withhold part or all of a police pension.

It is governed by:
Police Pension Regulations (1987 / 2006 / 2015 versions as applicable).

Forfeiture can only occur where:

The officer is convicted of a criminal offence
The offence is connected to police service
The offence is judged seriously injurious to the public interest

It is not triggered solely by misconduct findings.

Gross Misconduct
vs Criminal Conviction

Distinct legal processes with different pension impacts.

Gross misconduct:

  • Is an employment disciplinary finding
  • Can result in dismissal
  • Does NOT automatically trigger forfeiture

Criminal conviction:

  • Is a court finding
  • May trigger forfeiture powers
  • Is required in most forfeiture cases

Dismissal and forfeiture are legally separate processes.

Forfeiture Logic tool

Pension Risk
Awareness Checker

Assessment Output
Unlikely Forfeiture

Dismissal alone, without a criminal conviction meeting specific criteria, is unlikely to lead to pension forfeiture under current regulations.

Disclaimer: This tool is illustrative and does not replace regulated legal or financial advice. Regulations differ by scheme and date of offence.

Who Decides
Forfeiture?

Forfeiture decisions are not made by the force alone. They involve:

The relevant pension authority
Often Secretary of State involvement
Formal legal assessment

The test applied includes:

Seriousness of offence
Connection to police service
Public confidence impact
Forfeiture is not common.

Can All Pension Be Taken?

Legal limits and protections.

In most cases:

Partial forfeiture is more common than full forfeiture.

There are legal limits.

Certain parts of pension:

  • May be protected
  • Survivor benefits may remain payable
  • Accrued rights are not casually removed

Each scheme has its own forfeiture wording.

Dismissed Without
Criminal Conviction

Status of pension rights for gross misconduct alone.

If dismissed for gross misconduct but not convicted:

Pension remains intact
Accrued service preserved
Benefits payable at normal pension age
Ill-health rights unaffected (if applicable)
Employment status

Your employment ends.

Pension status

Your pension rights remain.

Resign Before
Outcome?

Resignation does not erase pension rights.

However:

If later convicted of qualifying offence, forfeiture proceedings may still occur.

Leaving service does not automatically shield from forfeiture review.
Statutory Intent

Historical Context

Forfeiture powers exist to address:

Corruption
National security breaches
Serious abuse of office

They are not designed for routine misconduct matters.

Status Analysis tool

Pension Status
After Dismissal

An interactive guide to determine how your employment status change impacts your accrued pension rights.

Likely Outcome
Deferred Pension Likely

Your accrued benefits are preserved. They become "deferred" and will be payable at your scheme's normal retirement age. Dismissal for misconduct alone does not remove these earned rights.

2015 Scheme Rules Apply

Survivor Benefits

Even where forfeiture occurs:

Survivor benefits may still apply
Dependent children may retain protection
Spousal rights are not automatically removed
Scheme rules vary.

Appeal
Rights

Forfeiture decisions may be:

Appealed
Reviewed
Challenged

This is not a summary process.

It involves structured legal assessment.

Search Priority

Detailed FAQ

Do you lose your police pension if dismissed?

No. Dismissal alone does not remove accrued pension rights. Forfeiture generally requires serious criminal conviction linked to service.

Can gross misconduct lead to pension loss?

Gross misconduct by itself does not automatically trigger pension forfeiture.

What is police pension forfeiture?

It is a legal power to withhold part or all of pension following serious criminal conviction connected to police service.

Who decides pension forfeiture?

The pension authority and, in certain cases, the Secretary of State.

Can part of a police pension be taken?

Yes. Partial forfeiture is legally possible in qualifying circumstances.

Calculator Tool

Model Your Exact Pension

Use our Police Pension Calculator to estimate your annual income under the 1987, 2006 or 2015 scheme — including early retirement reductions and McCloud impact.

Calculate My Police Pension
Final Position

Accrued
Protection

Police pension rights are protected by regulation. Dismissal is serious. But pension forfeiture is not automatic.

Employment discipline
Criminal conviction
Statutory forfeiture

Understanding the distinction prevents misinformation. Where uncertainty exists, structured legal advice is essential.