Johnny’s Story
After very little sickness during my service, I became seriously ill through work place events which was exasperated by the lack of support from my line managers and management. Had I received the support that I begged for, I would have ended up completing my service, but my force decided to close ranks and defend their dishonest and inept managers rather then someone that had given exemplary service. We are all just a number!
After three and a half years on half pay, I was assessed by Dr Huw Davies of South Wales Police (now deceased) for an ill-health and an injury pension. He informed me at the start of the consultation that I would not be told of his decision during the appointment, but I think that he quickly released that my mental health was so fragile that I really needed to know.
He was hesitant in making an injury award, and said, “I think the thing that makes my life interesting is the challenge, it doesn’t matter what I come with as an answer today, I know that I’m going to be in court sooner or later, aren’t I? It doesn’t matter which way I go“.
I have subsequently found that the mantra of “he who pays the piper, calls the tune” applies to all SMPs who are regularly refusing or reducing awards to keep their paymasters happy.
He then went on to say “Between you, me and these four walls, I will deny having said it to you; I am a very good liar and better when I am in court, and when I’m adversarial“.
These words, which were recorded by me, were shocking and live with me to this day!
He granted me an injury pension, and said don’t worry about the amount, I’ll work it out for you. I really had no idea what process I was in, how the pension was calculated and what I may receive. I was not in a good place, and I accepted what I was given.
After retiring, I lived an isolated life for a number of years rarely venturing out. Through IODPA I became aware of my rights and in particular I began to understand the piece of legislation that I had received my injury pension under – The Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006.
I made a Subject Access Request to my force, and also to the practice that Dr Davies had created.
My force had destroyed much of my paperwork, no doubt to protect the guilty, but I discovered that someone in the HR department with no medical training or qualifications had calculated the level of my disability and therefore the value of my injury pension! I later found that they had also calculated two other pensions in the same manner.
The paperwork that was returned from the practice that Dr Davies had worked at showed that he took at face value the level of disability suggested by the HR department, and then unlawfully cut it in half (using apportionment). As a result, my injury pension was half of what it should have been, a move undoubtedly done to appease the force.
I sought legal advice through the Federation, and the solicitor they instructed took his fee and told me that I had little chance of getting the decision put right. In fact he actively tried to dissuade me from pursuing the matter.
It wasn’t about the money, but there was an injustice that needed putting right, and so I instructed Ron Thompson and Mark Botham of Haven Solicitors.
My force dragged their feet, and delayed and delayed, but eventually, and almost ten years to the day, another SMP (one of the few trustworthy and honest ones out there) overturned the original decision and my pension was restored in full.
The bastards have taken ten years of my life, but it was IODPA that has now allowed me to start healing.
Thank you.
Well done, Johnny! I can imagine what you went through to get this all sorted out, and a huge thanks to Ron and Mark at Haven, who are the best! The stress and anxiety caused by the SMP’s, and the Forces, and their HR depts. are enough to destroy us! It seems as if some PFEW recommended Solicitors are getting to the same lousy level as some SMP’s? How could they take a fee from YOU when they did nothing? IODPA.org. was the BEST thing to happen for IOD pensioners. It has been shocking to hear the stories in there of how officers have been dealt with after being injured. It is not a new thing either! I was retired IOD in 1983 on band 1. I got put to band 3 after a PMAB in 2009. Then I found Ron Thompson!!! He got it corrected to Band 4 and then got it taken back to 1983! I finally got the IOD pension payments I had been entitled to throughout all those years. I hope more IODPA members take a look back to ensure they were properly looked after at the time of retirement. Plus IODPA is the way to share and help each other and a way to make pals when we have been ignored by anybody we worked with when we got hurt. IODPA also got Narpo to pull their socks up too!
Well done Jonny and a massive thanks to IODPA and Rob & Mark. It’s another disgrace that a vulnerable injured officer has been out through this.How do the forces get away with treating mentally injured officers like this in no other profession would this be tolerated.
Why is it allowed by Police forces and SMPs it’s an absolute disgrace
Well done Johnny, my wife and I know exactly how you and your family have felt and will always feel, because it never goes away, does it?
Just remember you’ve took on a police force, their SMP’s and all the ‘professionals’ and lies they could throw at you – and with the IODPA Family, Mark and Ron from Haven, you’ve WON!
So congratulations! You’re another positive ray of light that shows us it can be done, we can get justice!
None of this surprises me, sadly. My own experience is as negative as yours, right down to the Fed being a waste of time.
What can we say other than we feel your pain. My retirement mirrors yours. I am in a review abyss, now 3 and a half years and still waiting, because the AnS don’t respond to legal mail and get away with it. They completely destroyed my life and are still doing so. It is soul destroying. If iodpa weren’t there, I woukd have ended my life. They give me enough hope to keep trying… waiting for justice.
Unfortunately, this is an all too common a story that is heard from IOD’s around the UK. Not hundreds, but no doubt thousands are being affected!
The Government, aka The Home Office refuses to face these facts, as it’s all about saving money.
If recruits were told the true story about their ‘welfare’ if injured, and of being just ‘cannon fodder’ to those who lead, but don’t care, then the current numbers leaving would become a flood.
Until, honestly and true welfare for this who protect us returns, then this disgraceful practice will continue, and many more loyal, brave, but uninformed officers, will suffer these injustices.
A distressing, but sadly familiar read.
Once you cease to be of use to your force they regard you as merely a liability on their balance sheet. It matters not whether you’re off sick for a short period, long term or on the way to IHR, you’re treated with suspicion and disdain.
Forces are failing massively in their duty of care to their serving and former officers, paying mere lip service to their well-being.
I remember being told by my former CC when I retired, ‘You’re still a member of the police family and we will always be there for you’. What an bare-faced lie that was!
Well done Johnny for hanging in there, as well as IODPA and Haven. At least we have somebody on our side.
Well done Johnny and the best lads Ron and Mark. They are like a dog with a bone don’t let go …. I wish I had the strength at the time to fight on but I couldn’t … I feel like I should have been given an injury award too for my mental health that was caused through the job to which they eventually pensioned me out on mental health not physical .
Well done. Sorry to hear it’s taken so long but we’ll definitely be for fighting it. Hope you are in a good place now
Nice One Johnny.
That is great evidence you have of the corruptness we have all talked about with SMP’s and the Farces who employ them.
I hope you intend to make the GMC and your Farce aware of the corrupt going’s on? (Even though they are part of the corruption.
And just for good measure a complaint to your MP?
Well done for fighting back.
So distressing for you and your family. You were brave to push on. So glad you got restitution but much damage already done. Hope you can look to the future and not backwards now .
Well done Johnny. These people are a law unto themselves. Make it up to suit as they go along.
Johnny my heart goes out to you, Haven solicitors are fighting my corner right now, I’ve been taking the advice of the iodpa since 2018/19 and if it was not for them I would have taken my life by now and especially the help and support they have given me.
My force failed to recognise my PTSD and closed ranks on me, I lost my wife, home and family and now live on my own. Police forces need to take a long hard look at themselves, they are boys clubs or if your in the click, no matter how hard you work or the shit you pull bosses out your just a number. I hope your future is bright Johnny and the iodpa family is stronger because of people like you.