Armstrong welcomes new scheme to help Police Widows

Mid-Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong has welcomed the announcement of a new UK-wide scheme which could provide a one-off payment of up to £20,000 to the partners of Police officers killed in the line of duty, and who subsequently remarried.

The Ulster Unionist representative, and former RUC Reservist said;

"This scheme - The Police Survivor Support Scheme - will apply throughout the United Kingdom and will be warmly welcomed. Previously, if the partner of a serving officer who was killed in the line of duty subsequently remarried, they would lose the right to the Police Pension.

This always seemed rather unfair to me, so the news that the Government is to address this situation by means of a UK-wide scheme whereby the widow or widower of any full-or part-time Officer with the RUC or PSNI who had their pension stopped and who are considered in need of financial assistance may be eligible for a pay-out of up to £20,000.

The scheme will be run by the Police Dependent's Trust, which has been providing financial support to the families of officers killed on duty since 1966, and anyone who requires further details should contact

David French

Chief Executive

Police Dependents' Trust

3 Mount Mews

High Street

Hampton

Middlesex

TW12 2SH

Tel 020 8941 6907