Derbyshire police chief constable to 'retire' before rejoining force in same position a month later
The chief constable of Derbyshire police is set to 'retire' from the force early next month, before returning to take up the same position a month later. Rachel Swann will be utilising the Retire and Re-join scheme in order to take a month-long hiatus from the police and before being reinstated in early November.
While this may come as a surprise for most people, as many would probably try and enjoy their retirement once it had started, the national scheme is set up to allow for police officers to continue working without experiencing "financial disincentives" due to pension plans. Ms Swann's 'retirement' in early October comes 30 years after she began her policing career in 1994 - with the scheme allowing her leave her position and re-join at the same rank.
A spokesperson for the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said: “The scheme, which does not create any additional costs to the taxpayer, is in accordance with updated guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council.”
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Ms Swann said: "I feel very privileged to be Chief Constable and am immensely proud of the force and the people in it. We have made huge improvements and I want to lead the force and provide that leadership continuity to deliver outstanding services to the people of Derbyshire."
While the chief constable will receive no salary during her short stint of ‘unemployment’, questions have been raised around whether she will cash in on her pension. This comes as other forces have partaken in the same scheme and have allowed officers to leave for a minimum of 31 days, in which they receive a lump sum of their pension, before re-joining the force to continue their service.
The Derbyshire PCC spokesperson added: “It supports the Government's objectives of achieving longer working lives, whilst removing the financial dis-incentive that may encourage officers who would ordinarily wish to continue working in the police to leave service for reasons associated with pension benefit changes.”
It is currently unclear as to whether Ms Swann will be receiving a lump sum of her pension upon leaving the force. A spokesperson for Derbyshire police said: “In terms of the pay – as part of the scheme for the time in which the person is not employed by the force (in this case one month) the individual is able to draw their pension. Once they are re-employed they are then stopped from drawing their pension. It is up to the individual if they wish to do this.”
As a result of this month-long career break for Ms Swann, Derbyshire police will be temporarily appointing deputy chief constable Simon Blatchly as its new chief constable. Therefore Mr Blatchly will serve as the chief constable from October 7 until November 8, 2024.
Ms Swann will join a number of other high ranking officers in the country also participating in the scheme, before returning to their roles they previously held.