THE POLICE PENSION (NORTHERN IRELAND) REGULATIONS 2009

Election to purchase increased benefits

53.—(1) This paragraph applies to a police officer by whom contributions are for the time being payable under regulation 5.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, a police officer to whom paragraph (1) applies may at any time, for the purpose of reckoning additional pensionable service (“added years”) in calculating the awards payable to, or in respect of, him under Part 4, elect to make payment to the Board in accordance with the following provisions of this Part.

(3) Such an election is to be made by giving written notice to the Board specifying—

(a) the number of added years to be purchased;

(b) the date, no earlier than that on which the officer will attain the age of 55 years nor later than that on which he could be required to retire under regulation 16(1) or (2) if he continued to serve without change of rank, when he wishes the added years purchased to become reckonable for the purpose of calculating awards; and

(c) whether payment is to be made by way of a lump-sum in accordance with regulation 55 or periodical contributions in accordance with regulation 56.

(4) The total number of added years that may be purchased in accordance with regulations 55 and 56 by virtue of such an election shall not exceed—

(a) Five; or

(b) such lesser number as would entitle the officer, if he were to serve continuously as a full-time member of the service from the date of his election under paragraph (2) until the date specified in accordance with paragraph (3)(b), to reckon a total of 35 years’ pensionable service as at the date so specified.

(5) A pension debit member may not replace any rights debited to him as a consequence of a pension sharing order with any rights which he would not have been able to acquire (in addition to the debited rights) had the order not been made.