“The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.
― Karl Marx, Eleven Theses on Feuerbach
When you’re disabled as a consequence of suffering an injury on duty , supportive and reliable information can change your life. That’s what we do. We empower people to understand their position and the choices available to them.
Our charitable purpose is to “To relieve the need of retired and serving police officers in hardship or distress who are disabled as a consequence of being injured on duty”. Our core aims say this is to be achieved by “campaigning to raise awareness and promote understanding of the correct application of the Police Injury Benefit Regulations so that those retired with injury awards receive fair and lawful treatment, respect, equality and inclusion” and by “exposing and challenging all aspects of illegality, unfair practices and improper conduct at all levels of injury award administration”.
In our posts we regularly explain the narrative of how vulnerable and disabled former officers are being victimised and damaged by the actions (and inactions) of the police pension authorities. Are our blogs an example of good rhetoric: effective persuasion that influences people? or bad rhetoric: lacking in meaningful content?
Our readership and member numbers are always increasing but the truth of it is that there is no alternative voice. If not us, then what?
The organisations that exist before IODPA, such as NARPO, only seemed to patch up the effects of the fundamental injustices that are built into the structure and processes of injury award administration.
Help, from this viewpoint – the position of the person with an injury award – can sometimes be seen as actually accepting the injustice itself, while trying to mitigate the consequences of the injustice.
This is where IODPA differs and why our difference matters. We accept our small size means we can’t be all things to all men but we say enough is enough. Using the literacy sense rather than the biblical, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” If this statement is taken all by itself, it seems to imply Paul was willing to do anything to reach the lost. We can’t reach everyone. We haven’t the resources to help everyone – there are so many problems that are affecting the need of those disabled due to a duty injury that we have to make hard decisions. Some problems are so complex, so individual and unique, all we can do is refer the poor soul to an eminent solicitor.
The effort put into this charity is devoted to pressuring those in authority to bring about needed change. Where we can, we help individuals. At the least we provide knowledge, at the most we give up our time, an ear and listen.
The famous story of the boy and the starfish shows why using charity to fix individual problems can be very valuable.
Once upon a time, a man walking along a beach saw a boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea.
He asked the boy why he was throwing starfish into the sea.
The boy replied, “The tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll dry up and die.”
The man smiled patronisingly and said, “But, there are miles of beach and thousands of starfish on every mile. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The boy smiled, bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the sea.
“Well,” he said, “I made a difference for that one.”
Other organisations need not fear us. We have no illusions for a power grab. Soon we hope to have full Charity Commission regulatory status as a CIO (charitable incorporated organisation).
Our existence is changing the way people think. It is becoming harder for forces like Northumbria to aggressively “test the law”, we are closing down the threats given out by HR personnel in their unlawful demands for personal and sensitive medical information.
We are helping people; we are making a difference.
I find the main difference between PolFed, Narpo and IODPA is this. When first confronted by unlawful activity by my old force Staffs on our IOD pensions, I asked both what I should do. Both were of the view “Suffer it and then appeal”! To someone who had fought inequality and injustice all my life, that did not sit well. “What about the distress, the worry, the stress”, I asked. A shrug of the shoulders was all I received. They seemed either unwilling, or uninterested, or possibly impotent to do anything for me or other Staffs IOD’s.
Then I heard of IODPA and having joined was given good information and support.
You don’t have to ‘suffer then appeal’. There are ways of challenging the unlawful activity, of resisting the bullying, of stopping the threats and bringing them to account for their actions! I feel empowered to stand up for my rights.
It’s interesting that as a result of IODPA support, Staffs Narpo & PolFed have now changed their tune somewhat and suggested some actions IOD’s can do. However, the question remains “Why has it taken 6 months, for them to reach the same point IODPA were at 6 months earlier”. The stress and strain those non IODPA IOD’s have suffered during that period could have been avoided and that will never be forgotten. Those of us who realised where ‘real’ help was, have become a strong group and now stand together, especially for those IOD’s who cannot for a number of reasons be so strong. Thank you IODPA for being there. Shame on you Narpo & Pol Fed, there was so much more you could have done for your members.
I started on the journey to have my Band 3 IOD reinstated back in 2007. My Force have manipulated facts to keep me on Band 1 but I have fought back. There have been times when I wanted to throw in the towel but the fight against the injustice caused me to carry on. I have a complaint with the Pensions Ombudsman at the moment. I am being assisted by a fellow member of IODPA to put together a response. Without IODPA I would not have had the energy to carry on. I cannot thank the organization and its members enough.
PFEW and NARPO are nothing but a facade pretending to have the best interests of us at heart.
By experience the Fed tow the line with The Force like lap dogs and NARPO is nothing more than a pensioners tea and biscuits club.
Times they are a changing with IODPA doing the work the FED should have done decades ago.
It’s sad that such a need is necessary but I’m glad it’s lead to IODPA as it’s people I trust.
If the Fed or NARPO where genuinely working in our best interests then they would be promoting IODPA to everyone. As long as they don’t their credibility is diminished.
… when the cold winds blow the lone wolf dies and the pack survives.
…for the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
IODPA is a wolfpack that hunts unlawful HR practices.
The greatest thing about IODPA is the information they have researched and the errors, maladministration and unlawful practices they have discovered occurring when it comes to IOD pensions and now how they fight against those errors and unlawful practices for each and every IOD pensioner who has come to their attention. Thankfully, the IODPA organisation is becoming better known and membership is growing even more.
One of the worst shocks for an injured on duty officer, forced into retirement, is how unprotected they are and the fact that there was little help or none at all for them if you did not know where to go for it. Thankfully now IODPA is there to go to for any help or information required and encouragement from other members in fighting the dreadful abuses and bullying that goes on where their IOD pension is concerned. It’s like having another family who care and will help us fight the injustice that is going on. Now we can fight it!
IODPA and their brilliant legal team should be recognised and acknowledged by NARPO, The Police Federation and Government as the experts within this field and they should acknowledge that they are not. NARPO and The Police Federation owe it to all their IOD members to provide the best possible advice when serious issues such as illegal reviews and corrupt SMPs involve their vulnerable members and should actively engage with IODPA. They should openly publicise in their correspondence and their websites the presence of IODPA and point to their success in socially and legally assisting retired IODs who are being unfairly harrassed and unlawfully robbed of their pensions.
In my experience, when my review began, The Federation and NARPO were sadly lacking in knowledge and interest. My Force justified their unlawful review process by stating in their initial threatening letter that it had been agreed in consultation with NARPO and The Federation. Really? I was given the wrong legal advice by my Fed Rep and told to “just go along with it and appeal if you re not happy.” It was not until I joined IODPA that I began to finally progress and successfully challenge the illegal, intimidating review process dreamed up by my Force to rob me of my pension. Being a member of IODPA gave me the confidence to do that.
Thanks IODPA for all your endless hard work in highlighting and fighting the injustice of corrupt Police Forces and motivating and assisting vulnerable Police IOD pensioners to take them on.
I agree fully with Little Jimmy.
I was given initial advice by the Federation and NARPO and afterwards by other IOD pensioner friends in my Force.
I found that all three genuinely wanted to help but in reality they had little or no knowledge of the regulations and no experience of handling reviews, so they had not managed to progress much with helping my predicament.
By accident I found the IODPA. I was uncertain at first. Suspicious and wary.
The support from the IODPA was immediately apparent but I had support around me and desperately needed knowledge and someone just to tell me exactly what to do.
What followed was simply awesome. Having endured a number of previous reviews, I had experience of the process. I didn’t know, however, that each time I had been dealt with unlawfully! Not until I received the advice of the IODPA and their phenomenal legal team.
The knowledge of the regulations is one thing, but the implementation of the regulations and the combined experiences of many others in the same position is another.
I have found that no matter what subject I raise with the IODPA – The Regs themselves, Subject Access Requests, Human Rights Act, Data Protection Act and much, much more, each and every time, the IODPA had a case they had dealt with or were dealing with that could provide the advice I needed.
I know they are connected to solicitors and a QC who are experts in the field of Police IOD Pensions and they work tirelessly to ensure that Forces perform reviews of pensioners lawfully and fairly.
I cannot speak highly enough of this organisation. I would urge anyone involved in the IOD process to become a member.
How the Police are treating their injured former officers is a National disgrace.
Unlawful reviews, not abiding by the regulations, using threats and intimidation to coerce the completion of forms for which there is no legal basis etc etc.
Without IODPA I had no one to ask for help and advice with regard to these unlawful reviews that some Forces are Hell bent on conducting.
Thank you IODPA for being there for me in my time of need when no one else was willing to help.
Keep up the good work. All very much appreciated. Thankyou
Thank god IODPA does do what they do !!!!!
Because, really, who else is there…………..
The knowledge that the group IODPA have is phenomenal and it grows with the addition of new members who bring their experiences and skills to the group.
From the meagre beginnings of meetings in pubs and houses to conferences the growth has eeen amazing we learnt quickly who to trust and what to do, we didn’t rush in with pointless arguments we waited and got it right.
We admit we explored many avenues that came to nothing as it would have been fruitless after all we were going up against the police and they are suppose to be good at what they do.
In the end we won through and now we need to push on until we as a group make forces do reviews and iod pensions right.
Now it is time to assist Staffs and any others that are suffering at the hands of HR and PPAs we must remain on course and together as we know forces make the biggest mistakes and that is their downfall.
Thanks and please keep up the good work.
Your organisation may not be huge. But you know the old saying:
“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a locked room with a mosquito!”
Thank you for the difference you have made to my life. I am not sure where I would be right now without the advice, support and understanding of the IODPA.
Thank you for being there! In the early days I didn’t know where to go, who to talk too and Narpo? They just said ‘suffer it and then appeal’! I thought there must be a way of fighting this injustice, the very injustice I fought for 34 years as a member of a police force against in relation to my communities. Then I heard of IODPA and have not looked back since. You are among like minds, people who want not preferential treatment, just fair and lawful treatment. Thank you IODPA, without you, I don’t know what I would have done.
Should official complaints not be encouraged to police forces in relation to injury award malpractice? For example the recent Merseyside police policy of the civilian (former Chief Inspector) pensions officer who decided to take it upon himself to examine confidential medical records of his former colleagues, and then makes decisions upon their awards? What a scandalous thing to do. Do we know if heads rolled?
Thanks yes you have and are making a difference yes if not you then who ?
People who are under pressure understandably get very frustrated and misunderstandings can and do arise. It’s not about a power grab as the apostle Paul you quote knew only too well he went up against some mighty foe but whatever happened he kept going in the face of others hostility and differening opinions within his close companions. Patience seems to be a key word that’s needed for all concerned.
Contrary to the views of NARPO. IODPA have, and always will have the full support of the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers Association
We too have an uphill struggle against the legislators
Like IODPA, our numbers are growing because of what we are doing.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
It’s quite telling, that having been overpaid from 10th February -1st June (because of the ESA ruling) the only people who bothered to offer me guidance and assistance, and even just an ear to sound off on, were IODPA, my NARPO rep didn’t even bother getting back to me, Federation weren’t interested either.
You shouldn’t exist, there should be no need for you, two recognised bodies should be more than enough with all these troubles, the fact you do, and (in my experience) have contributed 100x more to helping me with my own personal situation in comparison to those two bodies, speaks volumes.
It is a fact that the IODPA is making that difference, and without it being present, the other organisations which should have been dealing with the injustices were dormant and let their injured colleagues down. ( One also could suggest that some sections were complicit which encouraged the Home Office and the Police Forces to act in the way which they did ……..IODPA stopped that unlawful action )
I was lucky to discover IODPA early on my journey towards retirement – a shining beacon in the evil darkness of HR menace.