Revolving Doors

I have to admit I'm getting a bit confused as well as outraged by the early retirement arrangements for some of the country's leading public servants.

The latest example to attract my attention is that of Sir Norman Bettinson - who resigned from his job yesterday as the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.

But prior to this job Sir Norman was the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police - from 1998 to 2005 - when he retired from that job to become the Chief Executive of Centrex.

Centrex apparently provided training and development to police forces in the UK - and other enforcement agencies worldwide - until it was abolished in 2007.

Whereupon Sir Norman rejoined West Yorkshire Police as its new Chief Constable in 2007 - which he had worked for previously between 1993 and 1998.

Despite receiving a £328,000 lump sum (tax free?) severance payment - in connection with his earlier retirement as the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police in 2005.

Now Sir Norman is patiently waiting on his £83,000 annual pension being released - although the families of the Hillsborough disaster victims have called on his pension to be suspended - until investigations into the tragic deaths of 96 innocent Liverpool fans have been completed. 

Now my confusion is this - 'How can it be right that these public funded bodies are able to operate a revolving door policy when it comes to senior staff?'

Staff who have previously retired and supposedly moved on in their lives - end up joining new organisations such as Centrex which were providing training and other services to UK police forces.

The whole thing seems like a complete racket to me - and it's high time that these ridiculous pensions regulations were changed.