2024 Subscription Update - see below.
[Page updated 05032024]
Southport & District
Southport & District Branch of NARPO has over 400 members and holds a meeting every three months. Details of the meeting are given in the Branch News Letter sent to all members. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings which are held usually in the evening at a venue in central Southport.
If you’ve retired from the Police Service or are about to do so, and live in the Southport and District area, the Branch would be pleased to welcome you as a member or an additional member. Remember it doesn’t matter where you served, It’s not the Force or location that should decide your NARPO Branch, it’s having help and friendship in the area you live.
The Committee includes the Hon. Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Welfare Secretary and Hon. Social Secretary.
The Branch provides welfare facilities through the Hon. Welfare Secretary and all such contacts are maintained as confidential, unless the member, decide otherwise.
It is a sad fact, but Police Forces no longer provide welfare facilities for retired officers and their families, so it reassuring to know that you can have expertise on hand to assist in this important area, which may involve complicated issues with pensions. Expert help is available from the national office, when needed.
On a lighter note, the Branch Hon. Social Secretary works on providing a varied programme of social activities that are requested by the members. Ideas are always welcome so make the most of your membership by providing ideas for social events that you think would be of interest to others. Whilst NARPO is a pensioner organization, that's fifty plus, even the more senior members are young at heart, so there are some excellent social events.
For more information about the Branch please contact the Hon. Secretary by use of the contact form or please see the contact details on the National Website at ‘Branches’ at http://www.narpo.org/
Members with e-mail addresses are requested to provide the e-mail address to the Hon. Secretary in order that notices, including those sent out by Police Forces to the Hon. Secretary can be quickly passed on to members. Branch e-mail address: [email protected]
Branch Newsletter
2024 - - Subscriptions.
Nationally subscriptions will be increased to £26:20, for 2024 which is an increase of £1:7- per month, caused by CPI being at 6.7%
For those members who have payment methods which have lapsed, please contact the Hon. Treasurer Alan Buck to update your payment method.
Payments by cheque payable to: NARPO Southport & District Branch and sent to the Hon. Secretary, address details in the news letter.[See page 4 of the January 2022 Branch Newsletter].
PLEASE FORWARD SUBSCRIPTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BEFORE THE A.G.M. TO THE HON. TREASURER.
.
BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 2024 -
The Southport NARPO Annual General Meeting was be held at the Masonic Hall, Duke Street Southport at 11.00am on Saturday, 16th March,2024. Followed by a free lunch.
David Smith the Merseyside Police Records Manager attending and spoke to the meeting, about the Records Management Unit work, which is based at Edge Lane in a new facility. David spoke of his hope of being able to provide a historic collection of records from across the Force area including from the former constituent Borough Forces. There is an offer to anyone who has any documents to contact him to either discuss donations or loan of the documents. In addition if anyone feels that they are interested in being a volunteer to assist with historic research, they are asked to get in touch. The Force has a process for volunteers which is shown at the link: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/police-forces/merseyside-police/areas/careers/join-us/Police_Support_Volunteers/
A complete record of the members of the Southport Borough Force, at 31st March 1969, is held by one of the Branch members who brought the Binder to the meeting. The meeting agreed that the binder should stay in local possession, although there was no objection to a copy being given to the Records Managemt Unit.
Need a trusted trader. The Welfare Secretary has details of some local trades people who have been recommended. If you need a trades person, ring the Welfare Secretary and he'll give you details of anyone who may be able to assist.
Please inform the the Hon. Secretary if you are attending by booking places . E-mail to [email protected] with any special dietary requirements
Note From our Secretary - Gremlins in the e-mail system!
I am aware that some of you or all of you may be receiving between 2 & 6 copies of emails that I send out to you.
Unfortunately I cannot stop this. Head Office are looking into it. When they solve it you will notice it, but until then there is nothing I can do about it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
2024 - Petition - Now closed
The petition had been organised to try and get a medal, similar to the Long Service Medal, for officers pensioned off through ill health or injuries on duty.
The petition needed 10.000 signatures before the Government will debate it.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/644677
The petition closed on 27th March 2024, with a total of 3,621 signatures. The petition details are copied below:
To debate, agree on and seek The King's approval for the new medal.
It is a national disgrace and scandal that police officers are severely injured on duty in an effort to protect the public, are severely injured and are medically discharged from the service without any medal whatsoever in recognition of their health sacrifice.
No such medal exists other than if there are actions of 'high gallantry' i.e . George Cross etc.
Many police are attacked and injured not having had an opportunity to display 'high gallantry' and that is why very few medals have ever been awarded.
REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE - 2023
The Branch members who attending the Parade on Sunday 12th November 2023, can be see on three separate Youtube posting, by search the internet for Remembrance Parade Southport 2023. Iain Brown was present and assisted in organising the position in the parade, with the Masonic grouping.
In 2022 the NARPO wreath remembered a former Southport Borough Police Officer.
The citation on the wreath refers Coldstream Guards Sergeant Miller Smith;
further details and some photographs are in the Newsletter No. 1/2023. The item provides details of former Southport County Borough Police, Constable Miller Smith, who served as Sergeant Miller Smith, in the Armed Forces. Following a joint British - Norwegian Operation in September 1942, he was captured and executed by German Forces as a reprisal for the operation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - 12012022 - Merseyside Funeral Society - VOTE Result.
Southport NARPO Branch members who have provided the Hon. Secretary with an e-mail address, will have been provided with three documents from the MERSEYSIDE POLICE FUNERAL SOCIETY relating to the society is holding a Special General Meeting (SGM) on 5th January 2022.
This is with a view to considering dissolving the society.
A Special General Meeting of the Society will be held on Wednesday, 5th January 2022 at 6pm at Police Headquarters, Canning Place, Liverpool to consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a Special Resolution of the Society:
“That the Society be dissolved with effect from 1 March 2022, or as soon thereafter as practicable, with any surplus remaining after payment
in full of the Society’s creditors to be distributed equally among the members in accordance with rule 32(2) of the Society’s rules; and
THAT the Instrument of Dissolution produced to the meeting be approved and the Chairman of the meeting, the Secretary, any Trustee and any three Members of the Society be authorized to make such amendments as are a necessary to reflect the Society’s position at the actual date of dissolution,
then to sign it and to register it with the Financial Conduct Authority.
VOTE RESULT provided to the Branch Hon. Secretary by e-mail as follows:
To: Southport & District Branch Secretary <[email protected]>
Subject: Funeral Society
Hello
Matt Helme here at the funeral society.
We have the full results of our recent vote, the unanimous vote was to close the society.
The committee are currently carrying out extensive legal processes to close the society.
All members should receive a payment shortly after the end of the financial year
Further updates to follow.
I thank you for all your help.
Could this information please be shared with your members
Thanks again
Matt
National NARPO website - Police Mutual Health related fact sheets
Police Mutual has produced a series of Factsheets covering physical and mental health issues . These contain useful advice for NARPO Members and signposting to other agencies which can assist and provide further information.
These have been recently updated and new ones added on Financial worries in retirement and Exercise and Nutrition.
These Factsheets can be found on our website- https://www.narpo.org/wellbeing-factsheets/
UPDATE - Travel Insurance.
This is the latest information regarding travel Insurance for those who are interested - e-mail dated 6th May 2022.
In our last update two weeks ago, we explained that the new travel scheme planned for launch on the 20th of April has been postponed and an alternative discounted interim travel insurance offer for NARPO members has been put in place with Able2Travel.
This offers either single trip or multi trip cover and members should use the discount code TGT5 as part of the straightforward online quote process which we recommend you have your medial history and any current medication to hand as details may be required.
In the meantime, work continues with the originally preferred travel insurer to address the aspects of their offer that had not met expectations when launched with other clients. As we previously advised, the previous AXA Health scheme was unique in the market; while we were able to agree an extension to this scheme following their decision to exit the travel insurance market, it has proved impossible to source cover with directly equivalent ‘fit to fly’ acceptance terms.
We now expect to launch the preferred option, Lighthouse, later this month and as with all travel insurance offers, the quotation and application process is on-line. This will offer an increased upper age limit for single trips and an annual multi trip cover option. We appreciate that some members may not have internet access who may then need to speak with our team to help them purchase a policy. This can be a lengthy call for those with complex medical history and while we have increased the team to support, the large number of calls continue to mean members may need to leave a message to be called back.
If you are unable to complete your Able2Travel application online, we are encouraging members then please email our team in the first instance at: [email protected]
If you do not have access to email, then you can call us on 0800 389 7724. As above, our expanded team continue to receive high call volumes while working through a backlog of messages in an orderly fashion and we kindly ask for your patience while we return or answer your call.
===============================================================================================
Previous information message:
Please see the below email from Towergate regarding new travel insurance policies We [NARPO national office], are still in discussions with Towergate to find another travel insurance provider.
Any queries regarding this email and travel insurance should be made direct to Towergate as NARPO cannot provide insurance advice.
Annual travel insurance extension– AXA Health
Further to our previous communication with regards to the withdrawal of the NARPO annual travel insurance policy and the suspension of new policy sales from 31st October 2021, we can confirm that following discussions with our intermediary Towergate Health & Protection and AXA Health, that an extension to the sale of new travel insurance policies has been agreed.
The option to purchase a new annual travel insurance policy is available to NARPO member who are new to AXA Health* has been extended to 31st March 2022. For details and quotations please contact Towergate Health & Protection on 0800 389 7724 or email [email protected]
Please note that all new policies for new customers purchased before 31st March 2022 will be available for 1 year only, renewal will not be invited at the end of the policy year.
Please note that customers with existing AXA Health Travel policies renewing from 1st May 2021 have been or will be separately communicated to by AXA Health at their renewal. The renewal letter will confirm the final date cover will be available under an AXA Health policy.
*Members with an existing AXA Health travel insurance policy who choose to cancel their policy will not then be able to purchase a new policy before the scheme closes to new customers on 31st March.
The Branch Secretary has now changed to a new Southport NARPO email address to [email protected]. Please use this e-mail address for NARPO business.
Please ensure your e-mail is set up to allow access or check the spam folder to ensure the e-mail hasn't been misdirected.
The website will be updated when the new e-mail address has gone 'live'.
From 1st July 2021, the Branch Secretary will be using a more secure e-mail system to send e-mails to members for bulk e-mail. The e-mail will still show as from [email protected], so you will not notice much difference in the e-mail. Please make sure that e-mail systems are set up to receive the e-mail rather tan blocking or sending to the junk folder. If you are not sure the Secretary has a correct e-mail address for any e-mail address, please a brief e-mail to [email protected].
Public Sector Pensions
Please find attached our final response to the Government consultation on Public Sector Pensions together with the final response from the Scheme Advisory Board of which we are members.
For further information see the link below to the relevant Government website page:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/public-service-pension-schemes-consultation-changes-to-the-transitional-arrangements-to-the-2015-schemes
NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY - 2020
As you are aware the NPMD have had to change the way we remember our fallen colleagues this year due to the pandemic.
Full information is available via our website at https://www.narpo.org/national-police-memorial-day-2020/ which tells you all about how you can be involved on the day and in the days leading up to 27th September 2020. The pre-recorded event will be released at 1500hrs on 27th September and we hope that you can find a way to get together with friends to view it. Perhaps those of you with the technology (access to the internet with decent broadband speed) can ensure that others who do not can join you to remember our fallen colleagues.
I would be very grateful if you could spread this information far and wide, to all your friends and colleagues. This year's event may be different but we are determined that it will be seen by as many people as possible. Steve Edwards Chief Executive NARPO
Remembrance Service 2020
CANCELLATION OF PARADE AND CIVIC SERVICE
Information has now been received from Sefton Council that due to the current pandemic and restrictions in place across Merseyside, there will be no public services at any of the memorials in Sefton on Remembrance Sunday. Sefton Council will be sending representatives to all the memorials on the 8th November to lay the Civic Wreath at a non-specific time. Organisations, individuals and members of public can still visit the memorials and lay wreaths in their own time. Our Branch Secretary will of course be placing a wreath of poppies at the War Memorial at The Monument, Southport on behalf of the branch.
.Remembrance Service 2015
Southport NARPO took part in the march with the Hon. Branch Secretary laying a wreath at the cenotaph as in previous years.
A Youtube video of the parade showing the Branch Members is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpeUwc_Uu2I
Remembrance Service 2016
Southport NARPO took part in the march with the Hon. Branch Secretary laying a wreath at the cenotaph as in previous years.
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/remembrance-sunday-2016-11905138
Remembrance Service 2017
Southport NARPO took part in the march with the Hon. Branch Secretary laying a wreath at the cenotaph as in previous years.
javascript:playVideo(2,'9N42wMvmI0o')
Remembrance Service 2018
Southport NARPO took part in the march with the Hon. Branch Secretary laying a wreath at the cenotaph as in previous years.
https://youtu.be/VOfwOKqEXQY
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE - SUNDAY 2019
Southport NARPO took part in the march with the Hon. Branch Secretary laying a wreath at the cenotaph as in previous years.
Dates for these meetings will be anounced in due course.
CONFERENCE - SOUTHPORT - 6th SEPTEMBER, 2019
The 2019 NARPO conference took place on Friday 6th September in Southport. The theme of this year's conference was Wellbeing and Pensions. You can view the Conference on the link on our website- https://www.narpo.org/narpo-conference-2019/
The National Office have circulated the below briefing note in respect of pensions and the triple lock. It is an interesting read.
https://www.pensionspolicyinstitute.org.uk/research/research-reports/2020/briefing-note-number-123-what-does-covid-19-mean-for-the-triple-lock-and-state-pension-in%EF%AC%82ation/
Branch Newsletter
Have you ever fancied being a writer? If you would like to write an article for the newsletter, please contact the Branch Secretary who would be pleased to consider your article. Alternatively, if there are suggestions of what you would like to see included in the newsletter, please contact the Branch Secretary, by e-mail - contact form, direct e-mail: Southport & District Branch Secretary <[email protected]> or by details on the newsletter.
Trades People.
The Branch Secretary is building up a list of local trades people who members have used and would recommend. if you have details of someone you consider should be on the list, sent an e-mail or drop a note to the Secretary. If you need a trades person and don't have a trusted person contact the Secretary for some names. To date, feedback from members has been positive.
E-mail.
If you wish to receive communications from the Secretary by e-mail then the Branch needs to have your current e-mail address; so if you change an e-mail address or start a new one, test it out by sending a e-mail to the Secretary so he can keep the contact list up to date.
New e-mail address: Southport & District Branch Secretary [email protected]
Cycles
Do you have a pedal cycle that is for disposal, unwanted or possible for sale. If so, please contact Colin Baldwin a member who is also with the Southport Cycling Club. Contact details in the January Newsletter , e-mail and telephone. Full contact details in the January 2022 Branch Newsletter - page 2.
Travel insurance- Home, Car, Beakdown cover and, Health Insurance information. [Updated 05072021]
Please see the National NARPO website for up to date information. Link below
Travel Insurance - NARPO
HARVEY HOWELL SOLICITORS WORKING WITH NARPO
Our service, working with NARPO, is to provide legal knowledge and advice to NARPO members on wills, powers of attorney and such matters. We think education is really important and a lot of what we do is just about that - giving information and knowledge to members about how to look after their property and welfare and deal properly with things if they become ill or pass away. Here are some examples of the things we will can help with.
LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY - DO WE NEED ONE?
WHAT IF YOU LOSE THE MENTAL CAPACITY REQUIRED TO PUT IN PLACE LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY? Unfortunately, it is too late for a Power of Attorney but we can apply to the Court to help a member speak for the family member who has lost mental capacity.
WILLS – SIMPLE? Many people have a simple Will which just repeats what the law says when it leaves everything to the surviving spouse and then the children! Where is your protection? What about care home fees, probate fees, bankruptcy, children of previous relationships, looking after vulnerable children or relatives, guardianship, claims against the estate, stealth taxes through probate registration charges - there are many questions to consider. Many people we meet would not be best pleased if they died and their assets, life insurance payments and pension ended up passing to a person they would not choose to leave them to. We can help through a detailed (not simple) Will and the use of Family Trusts.
PROBATE FEES? Many people have made “free Wills” which not only fail to afford any of the protection against the threats mentioned but have appointed the Bank as their Executor who may subsequently charge up to 5% of the estate value to administer the estate. That’s £15,000 on a £300,000 estate. We can help fix that. CARE HOME FEES? 50,000 people lose their homes each year to fund their care. Can this be prevented? Do not fall for the expensive schemes sold to you by many non-solicitor legal advisors that promise to protect your home from these care home fees. Talk to us.
Contact details: Tel. 0151 928 8597 E-mail: [email protected], Website: WWW.HARVEYHOWELL.CO.UK