THE Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has discriminated against and victimised thousands of its own members by supporting new pensions arrangements, an employment tribunal has found.

The East London Employment Tribunal heard that the government had introduced new pensions arrangements which will leave younger officers worse off than older colleagues who retire under the existing arrangements.

But the federation, which is the trade union for police officers, refused to represent younger officers who wanted to challenge the government on the basis of age discrimination. 

When challenges were made by officers, the government admitted that the new arrangements discriminated against officers on the basis of age.

Thousands then challenged the federation, alleging that it had discriminated against them.

Law firm Leigh Day represented about 10,000 officers and took their claims to the tribunal.

Among other findings, the tribunal concluded that the federation had understood from the outset the possibility of age discrimination and that it had provided a skewed and misleading narrative of the new provisions.

Lee Broadbent, a Greater Manchester Police constable and Leigh Day client, said: “Collectively, thousands of us stood together when called upon to challenge what was clear discrimination and where other colleagues charged with protecting our legal interests should feel a deep sense of shame.”

He argued that the tribunal’s judgement exposed the federation’s “utter contempt for its own members,” who he said had been described as the “enemy from within” by its officials.

“It is of course what many of us felt at the time and no doubt many, including myself, are still being made to feel, but this judgement gives a sense of vindication,” he added.

Leigh Day senior associate Mandy Bhattal said: “This is an overwhelming win for our clients and a damning assessment of the actions of the PFEW. 

“The judgement is highly critical of the conduct of the PFEW, spanning a period of over a decade from when the [pensions] transitional arrangements were first mooted.

“The PFEW has a responsibility to challenge the government, but instead, not only did it ignore its responsibility to protect and represent members, it actively campaigned against police pensions claims to the detriment of many young police officers.”

The claim against the government alleging discrimination on the basis of age was made in 2015.

The federation said that it continues to reflect on the tribunal’s comments and findings.