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Kelvin Shipp to receive the King's Police Medal
Kelvin Shipp receive the King's Police Medal announced in the Years Honours list. Kelvin first joined Hampshire and the Isle of Wight constabulary as a special constable in November 1981 and then as a full-time regular serving officer in June 1991.
Throughout his career he served in a wide range of roles, most recently as a response and patrol team inspector in Portsmouth until his retirement in March 2022.
Kelvin also worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the United Nations by joining international policing deployments to Iraq and South Sudan.
It was during the 2016 deployment to South Sudan that he bravely faced down a hostile crowd, while unarmed, in the aftermath of a crash between a UN car and a local's motorbike. Kelvin was awarded with a commendation by the Chief Constable for bravery for his actions. Mr Shipp also took part in many European Union Police Services Training courses and exercises. And in 2019 he assisted with the D-Day 75 anniversary event.
On retirement in March 2022 Kelvin joined our Branch Portsmouth Southeast Hampshire and is now our Vice Chairman. The Branch are thrilled Kelvin has been selected to receive the K.P.M medal.
Laurie Davis laying wreath at Remembrance Service
Branch member Laurie Davis, Veteran of World War 2 in Bomber command attended the service and laid the Branch wreath.
Richard Matthews
Secretary
Tony Thompson - NARPO Life membership
On the 25th March Roy Pether Chairman of Portsmouth South East Hampshire presented Tony Thompson his NARPO Life membership in recognition of all the work that he has done over the years to support this branch. This includes his role on the committee, secretary and his organisational efforts to arrange our Annual Remembrance Services at Portsmouth Guildhall.
Maurice Herbert - 102nd Birthday
Our member Maurice Hulbert reached his 102nd birthday on the 12th February 2024 and his son Dave Hulbert (also a Branch NARPO member) arranged a celebration at his home in Waterlooville on that afternoon.
Maurice joined Portsmouth City Police as a 'Boy Clerk' in 1939 and was sworn in as a PC in 1941. He spent two of the war years serving in the RAF before returning to his policing role. He then served at the old Fratton Police Station, Kingston and the Portsmouth Police HQs in Queens Crescent in an admin role where he was remembered by many of the police cadets of the day as Police Sergeant 1. He retired in 1966 to take up a job with the Portsmouth 'News' and will this year have completed 56 years on pension!
Many of our members visited him on his big day and he was particularly remembered by some of the ex-cadets who spent their early days in Portsmouth.
Together with Dick Matthews I attended with gift & card and congratulated him on reaching this milestone. We were both impressed that he clearly recalled details of his police and military service.
Alan Martin - Welfare Team
Sadly, Maurice passed away at home after a period of poor health on the 21st December, 2024, just a couple of months short of his 103rd birthday. It is unlikely that we will ever have a retired officer who will have accrued so much pensionable time and we think that he was one of the last of our members with service in the second World War.
2022 Branch Charity
This year the Branch were able to raise £460.80p towards Hampshire Welfare and the main Branch charities were presented at our Christmas meeting on the 12th December Roy Pether presented £1,100.00 to Pam from Hannah's holiday homes where many local families with children with cancer have been able to have a respite holiday. Claire was unable to attend the meeting due to staff sickens. The following day Dick Matthews Secretary presented another cheque of £1,100.00 for The Sunshine Day Centre again a local organisation that give many elder people with different issues but mainly those suffering with dementia. All recipients were thrilled that we had chosen them.
Thanks
Dick Matthews
Who is eligible for a blue light card?
You are eligible only if you are an Armed Forces Veteran or a retired Police Officer or Fire Fighter. We will require ID to prove this in order to send the card to your home address. Please log in and see the PHYSICAL Blue Light Card FAQs section (only available when you are logged in) for more information on ID.
THE HAMPSHIRE POLICE & FIRE HERITAGE TRUST
Now that the Hampshire Police and Fire Collection is open to the public, we need to recruit people who are willing to spend a few hours a month helping us out. This can be simply by being a presence at the museum when it is open and chatting to visitors about the collection. We need people with either a Police or a Fire background. Detailed knowledge of the history and background of items is not essential as we will provide information sheets. We also need people who would be happy to conduct research into objects or service history. The museum is within the Solent Sky Museum, Albert Road South, Southampton, SO14 3FR. Free parking is available.
Volunteers play a vital role in museums and help us to keep them open for the enjoyment of the public. All volunteers are covered by the Solent Sky Museum insurance. The information you provide will be stored in confidence under the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Your completed form will be held securely and confidentially. Only authorized staff will have access to your information.
The Hampshire Police & Fire Heritage Trust Volunteer Application Form
PENSION OMBUDSMAN DETERMINATION ON TAX LIABILITIES ON RE-EMPLOYMENT
The Pension Ombudsman in a South Wales case has determined that the Police and Crime Commissioner had a duty of care, as an employer, to have informed the Applicant of the tax implications of re - employment on his retirement benefits. Its failure to do so has led to the Applicant incurring tax charges on his retirement benefits.
As a responsible employer the Commissioner had a duty of care to inform the Applicant of the tax implications of re-employment on his retirement benefits. I find that as a consequence of their failure to do so that they should reasonably meet the tax PO-7096 liabilities incurred by the applicant in this regard. So, I agree with the stance taken by the Commissioner that it proposes to pay the tax liability for the applicant in relation to this issue on confirmation of the amount from HMRC.
Full case link: https://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/determinations/2015/po-7096/police-pension-scheme/
TRANSPORT INSURANCE UPDATE
Following a review of the current travel insurance provision, with effect from June 1st 2023 NARPO have made the decision to transfer from Towergate to a new provider. The new Travel Insurance policy will be provided by P J Hayman & Company Limited and be sold and administered by The Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS).
More information on the new travel policy can be found here: NARPO TRAVEL INSURANCE and will feature in the upcoming issue of NARPO News and New Horizons.
Widows Pension For Life Campaign update
Our Widows Pension for Life Campaign reached a critical point at the end of August when lawyers acting on behalf of four widows and a widower lodged their claim against the Government in the High Court in Manchester.
Police Covenant
On 8th September NARPO welcomed the Home Secretary's decision to enshrine the Police Covenant in law. The Covenant will rightly enhance support and protection for serving officers but also extends to retired officers and the entire police family.
We sincerely hope that this will make a real difference to serving and retired officers and their families and we look forward to working with the Government to ensure it offers real and tangible support to those it covers.
What does COVID-19 mean for the triple lock and State Pension inflation?
The Government may be considering changing the triple lock State Pension inflation mechanism to a double lock as a way of helping reduce government expenditure in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Pensions Policy Institute have produced a briefing note exploring what this might look like.
Understanding the true cost of your insurance
When looking at your car or home insurance, you sometimes have to look beyond the headline policy cost, as some insurers may charge you extra for a range of services, including setting up your policy, requesting duplicate policy documents and making policy changes.
Police Mutual take a look at how their approach differs with NARPO Car & Home Insurance, provided by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc and let you know about their latest offers.
Steve Woodward - "Stand By Ya Beds"
My new book "Stand By Ya Beds" (Life as a 1970s Police Cadet) is now available to purchase. It explores the history of the Cadet scheme both nationally and within Hampshire, followed by a history of The Priory buildings that we came to know as the Cadet Training School at Bishops Waltham. This is then followed by the exploits of my Cadet intake in 1975. The book has dozens of photos and many names that you might recognise. The Foreword was written by Hampshire's highest ranking ex-Cadet, the late DCC Ian Readhead, just three weeks before he passed away. Click on the link and it will take you to the publisher to purchase it direct.
Ray Smout - "Spare a Copper"
Ray Smout’s latest book "Spare a Copper" available on Amazon and Kindle all profits and Royalties go to The Rowans Hospice.
Maurice -
Warrant Card photo
Dave Hulbert with his dad
Maurice on his 100th