Procedural Guidelines for the Northern Ireland Police Fund 2006

» General Eligibility Criteria

»1. General Eligibility Criteria

Requests for assistance from the following RUC and PSNI victims of terrorist violence will be considered:

Officers and former officers with serious physical injuries caused as direct result of terrorist violence

“Serious injuries” are deemed to be those which would entitle the applicant to an IOD Band 2 medical discharge as defined by an occupational physician. The applicant must also be able to demonstrate that he/she was the directly intended target of terrorist attack. In the case of FTR/PTR officers who would not be eligible for an IOD award, the Fund will consider such other evidence of eligibility as it considers necessary.

Former officers with severe psychological injuries caused as a direct result of terrorist violence

Former officers with psychological injuries caused as a direct result of terrorist violence, which would entitle the applicant to a minimum IOD Band 2 medical discharge, as determined by an occupational physician.  The applicant must also be able to demonstrate that he/she was the directly intended target of terrorist attack.

Widows of RUC (including pre-1982 widows) and PSNI officers (whose death occurred as a direct result of terrorist violence)

• Widows and families of officers who were eligible but die post service, and Widow/ers and dependent children of officers already in receipt of support from the NI Police Fund will continue to be eligible for support when the officer has died of natural causes

Widow/ers and dependent children of officers already in receipt of support from the NI Police Fund will continue to be eligible for support even where the officer has died of natural causes.

Widow/er s and dependent children of officers who would have been eligible for support from the NI Police Fund by virtue of a Band 2 terrorist-related IOD* or equivalent will be eligible for support where the application is post the ex-officer dying of natural causes.
*Serious physical and/or psychological injuries giving rise to a minimum IOD Band 2 medical discharge, as determined by an occupational physician.
Applicants must also be able to demonstrate that the ex-officer had been the direct intended target of terrorist attack.

• The parents (and, where appropriate, the legal guardians) of police officers murdered by terrorists
• Dependent children of RUC/PSNI officers whose parent(s) (and, where appropriate, the legal guardians), has/have been seriously injured or murdered by terrorists

Dependent is defined as “under 18 years of age at the time of application” or “in full time education”.

• Siblings of police officers murdered or seriously injured as a direct result of terrorist violence will only be considered eligible in exceptional circumstances.
• A spouse of an officer or former officer with serious physical injuries can apply for support through the Chronic Pain management Scheme.

Confirmation of eligibility may be sought from the PSNI.

For the purposes of this Fund, no distinction is made in the cases of former police officers murdered or injured by terrorists after their service as a direct result of having been a police officer.
ALL APPLICATIONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO AN ASSESSMENT VISIT.  APPROVAL IS AT THE DISCRESION OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE FUND DIRECTORS.