This article was published on Sun 24 May 2020. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
We are naturally doing everything we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and, at the same time, focusing on maintaining the service we provide to you, our Members and customers. Read more information on how we will be supporting you directly.
Guidance for the Police family
As frontline officers and staff, you are playing a critical role in the response to this crisis, it is therefore even more important for you to say fit and well and to look after all areas of your health during this difficult time.
Research shows that being sedentary is bad for your health, so ensure you keep active at home. Exercise helps both your physical and mental health, if you can go outside, go for a regular walk or do some online exercise classes.
Think about what you’re eating and where possible eat a balanced diet. Whilst food supplies may be limited, think ahead and plan your meals.
Limit your alcohol intake. In uncertain times like these it can be tempting to reach for a bottle to cope with the boredom and uncertainty but alcohol impacts your immunity and reduces your body’s ability to fight off disease.
Mental health
During this time, you may be bored, frustrated or lonely. You may also feel low, worried, anxious, or be concerned about your health or that of those close to you.
Everyone reacts differently to events and changes in the way that we think, feel and behave vary between different people and over time. It’s important that you take care of your mind as well as your body.
Tips to help if you’re worried about coronavirus:
– Keep a routine – Maintain social contact by text, Skype or phone – Avoid family arguments – Plan ahead – Don’t watch too much news – Manage your fears
Looking after your finances
As the outbreak continues to take its toll on life and the economy you may be worrying about what the financial impact is for you or your family members.
For tips on keeping your finances in check during this time, see our guide in the useful resources section.
As always we’re here to help, visit policemutual.co.uk, call 01543 441 630
This article was published on Mon 11 May 2020. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
As you know, on 30 April we announced one of the biggest decisions Police Mutual has ever made: our proposal to become part of Royal London.
Our dedicated website for you, our FAOs, is now live and available by clicking here: https://faoinfo.co.uk
It’s a ‘one-stop-shop,’ the site provides a range of information and materials about the proposed transfer – including the what; when; and why; and the importance of your role.
The site also includes copies of the voting pack and other materials you have been sent. And, if you have a question which isn’t covered by our FAQs, you are encouraged to submit it via the site.
You will also find details about a series of FAO webinars we are running in the next couple of weeks, the first being at 1pm on Thursday (14 May). Please visit the website to book yourself on to one of these important webinars.
We want you to understand why we are recommending the proposal to become part of Royal London, and the reasons behind the proposal, as well as what it will mean for members.
It’s why all of this is aimed at providing you with as full a picture as possible about the proposal. We want all of you to be able to make a fully informed decision when you cast your crucial vote on securing Police Mutual’s future.
This article was published on Tue 05 Nov 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
The Royal British Legion has been supporting Service men and women, ex-serving personnel and their families since 1921 and brought together four national organisations that had established themselves after the First World War. These were:
The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers
The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
The Comrades of The Great War
The Officers’ Association
The red poppy symbolises both Remembrance and also hope for a peaceful future. People wear poppies to show support of the Armed Forces community.
Wearing a poppy is not compulsory and is a very personal choice and reflects your own experience and personal memories.
What is the inspiration and history behind the poppy becoming a symbol of Remembrance?
During the WW1, the countryside in Western Europe was bombed considerably and stunning landscapes were turned into bleak, muddy and barren fields where very little flora or fauna could grow.
However there was an exception to this, the bright red Flanders poppies. The poppies were so resilient they flourished and grew in vast amounts.
In the Spring of 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was so moved by seeing the poppies that he wrote the now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
In Flanders Fields The poem by John McCrae
In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders’ fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high, If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders’ Fields.
This article was published on Thur 24 Oct 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and we’re doing our bit to raise awareness about cybercrime and how it can affect your daily life – whilst bringing you top tips on how to stay safe online.
We’re more connected to technology than ever before. From shopping and online banking, to email and social media, our personal information is increasingly digitalised. And as a consequence, the threat of cyberattacks continues to expand and evolve.
That’s why it’s vitally important to stay secure and safe online.
What is cybercrime?
Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer or network.
Examples include, fraud, bullying, theft or grooming that are committed online using a device, such as smartphones, tablets or other devices.
Cybercrime also includes crimes against your computer or device, such as contaminating or corrupting it with viruses or taking-over your social media profile, email account or your website.
What is cyber security?
Cyber security is the measures you can take to protect the devices you use, and services you access online from cybercrime. Cyber security is also a way of preventing unauthorised access to your personal information that you store on a device or online.
Now that smartphones, computers and the internet are such a fundamental part of everyday life, cyber security is essential for everyone, not just businesses, to go about their day-to-day lives.
What can I do to protect myself?
There are a number of steps you can take to stay safe and secure online. From updating your privacy settings, to getting the latest software, here are some tips and resources to help you protect your devices and data.
OWN IT
Stay safe on social media by limiting what you share, changing your passwords and checking your security settings.
You should also update your privacy settings regularly, whether this is on shopping websites, your email or music services you use.
Make sure your personal information is safe on the apps you download, too. With so many apps available, data like your name, email address or home address may be being used without realising it.
SECURE IT
By creating strong passwords or turning on multifactor authentication (double log-in), you’re building stronger layers of protection against your personal information and keeping your devices well-protected.
PROTECT IT
It’s also important that you are using the latest security software and apply updates when possible. This will help to ensure cybercriminals are kept out – and stay out!
This article was published on Fri 01 Feb 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
Safer Internet Day 2019 takes place on 5 February 2019 and creates a wide range of activities to promote the safe and responsible use of technology by children and young people. With many children now using tablet devices, phones and laptops, it’s important to remind children of how they can stay safe online as well as ensuring that the latest security updates are installed on all their devices.
Many children use the internet to play games, watch videos (YouTube Kids is a well-known favourite!), use social media and research topics to help with their homework. So, teaching them lessons about the risks could prove to be very valuable in the long term. If you haven’t thought about it already, maybe take a few minutes to brush up on your knowledge by reading our checklist below.
Teaching children to stay safe online – checklist
1) General risks
Children need to be made aware that using the internet comes with a range of risks – their actions are directly linked to their online safety and can even have an impact on your wallet. Talking openly and regularly to your child, sharing time on the internet together and setting family rules about using the internet are some of the best ways to help keep your children safe online. They need to know that the internet is a useful tool but that actions online can have repercussions. If you make this clear to them, in language they can understand, it’s an important first lesson. Most social media platforms will have age restrictions to protect children, so it’s worth checking that your child is only accessing sites suitable for their age.
2) Don’t trust that people are who they say they are
It’s easy for someone to create a false identity online. And, sadly, not everyone has good intentions. Have a rule with your children that they should never arrange to meet someone they have ‘met’ on the internet and to tell you immediately if they’re worried about something (or someone) they encounter online.
3) Keep personal contact details private
Make sure your child understands never to give out personal details to anyone online, including phone numbers, email addresses, their home address, or anything relating to their age, school, friends or family.
4) Be careful when posting or sharing content
If you let your children post in chat rooms then it’s a good idea to check that the chat room is moderated. This means that a comment will be approved by an administrator before it’s posted for the world to see.
Encourage them to think about what they choose to post, reminding them that whatever they say could be around for a long time. The internet doesn’t easily forget – show them examples of recent celebrities whose old social media posts have come back to haunt them!
5) Friend requests
It’s important for children to understand that online security is more important than popularity contests, so they should keep their social media accounts private and only accept friend requests from people they know.
If possible, it’s also a good idea for you to become ‘friends’ with your child on social media, so you can see what they’re posting and who they’re connected to. This is a particularly good idea if you’re worried about who they’re speaking to or notice a change in behaviour.
6) Parental control settings
Parental controls are an important way to keep your child safe online. They can be used to block upsetting or harmful content, control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online. Some even allow you to set up regular reports for your peace of mind. And the good news is that parental controls are really easy to set up. Innocent searches sometimes reveal results that are not so innocent. So if you’re worried about what your child is searching for online, who they’re talking to or what they’re seeing, use parental controls. Most devices have some inbuilt control features and you can search for more tools online.
What to do if they’ve got any problems…
Make sure your children know to tell you if they have any issues online. You can then choose the right course of action to take, whether that’s just a case of reassuring them or checking for more information. In extremely rare cases, you may need to seek advice from Action Fraud, the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command), or by calling 101 to speak to the Police for non-emergency guidance.
It’s also worth checking with your children’s school to see what ‘internet security’ teaching they cover as part of the curriculum.
Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is an incorporated friendly society. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority
This article was published on Wed 01 Aug 2018. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
NARPO are one of our most trusted partners and we value being mutually supportive of each other’s members and organisations.
“Improving the lives of members” is a simple thing to say, and it’s the reason Police Mutual exists. It’s something we’ve been doing for serving and retired Police Officers, Staff, Specials and their families, as well as the wider Police Service since 1866.
In order to ensure we bring this purpose to life for retired Police Officers we are dedicated to supporting NARPO and its membership.
We have worked closely with NARPO to tailor our products for their members.
We provide services and support to NARPO that spans respite care, community support funding such as Force for Good, and Care Line, a nurse led counselling service.
For those with financial questions and challenges we’ve team up with PayPlan who offer a debt advice service. We also make sure we recognise the great work carers do with our Act of Kindness scheme, offering a hamper of treats or a fresh bouquet of flowers as a humble “thank you”.
To continue our support of NARPO and their three themes of ‘Life, Leisure and Work’, we are currently enhancing our Retirement Centre to incorporate more NARPO features. We’ve worked in collaboration with NARPO to curate knowledge and information we trust will be valued by our members.
This article was published on Tue 08 May 2018. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
Innovation
This award recognises the Force Authorised Officer who has helped raise awareness of our products and services in all kinds of special, unique and highly effective ways. Winner: Nick Wyer (Dorset Police) Runners-up: Martin Guest (Humberside Police), Neil Burns (Police Scotland)
Raising awareness
This award recognises the Force Authorised Officer who’s been magnificent at ‘spreading the word’! Helping us to get our improving lives story heard in their force and making sure we can access harder to reach groups. Winner: Kirsty Norman (Derbyshire Constabulary) Runners-up: Karen Todd (PSNI), Sarah Cook (Thames Valley Police)
New membership (Smaller Forces)
This award recognises increasing new membership by the largest amount. Winner: Gloucestershire Constabulary Runners-up: Bedfordshire Police, Cumbria Constabulary
New membership (medium Forces)
This award recognises increasing new membership by the largest amount. Winners: West Yorkshire Police Runners-up: MET Police Service, Police Scotland
New membership (Larger Forces)
This award recognises increasing new membership by the largest amount. Winners: West Yorkshire Police Runners-up: MET Police Service, Police Scotland
Special recognition
This award recognises the Force Authorised Officer who has gone the extra mile in creating excellent opportunities for Advocacy, Access and Awareness. Helping to effectively deliver the Police Mutual Improving Lives Story, this person has truly made a world of difference. Winner: Claire Batt (Ministry of Defence Police) and Mark Payne (West Midlands Police)
This article was published on Thu 01 Feb 2018. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
This is commonly referred to as ‘identity theft’ and often leads to ‘identity fraud’, which is when criminals use stolen identities to obtain goods and services dishonestly.
This can involve taking out loans, claiming state benefits, opening a new bank account, taking control of an active current account, registering for credit cards, and signing up to contracts for items such as mobile phones. They can even obtain a new passport or driving licence using a victim’s identity.
Identity fraud victims can lose a lot of money and have their credit history negatively affected, which can also have an impact on their future finances. With this in mind, the best thing you can do to stop the fraudsters in their tracks is keep your personal details secure…
Dos and don’ts – protecting your identity
DO:
1) Install the latest antivirus software on your devices and regularly check for updates (even when you have selected an ‘automatic update’ option).
2) Shred any receipts, bills and delivery labels that display your personal information.
3) Regularly check your credit report for entries you don’t recognise. You can get your credit report from one of the three credit reference agencies: Noddle, Equifax and Experian.
4) Take action if you receive bills or receipts for purchases you haven’t made or any notifications relating to financial activity you haven’t authorised. Call your bank immediately if there is unusual activity you can’t account for on your statement.
5) Cancel your debit/credit cards as soon as possible if they are lost or stolen. Keep your bank/credit card company emergency contact numbers stored in your phone and written down at home.
6) Use different passwords for every online account you have. Strong, unique passwords increase your security by making it more difficult for a fraudster to guess a password in the first place. It’s also a good idea to change your passwords regularly. Use a combination of upper case and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, and make your password a minimum of 8 characters. Avoid easily guessable passwords – for example, single dictionary words or passwords based on something people can find out about you. Try using a sentence that is hard to guess but easy to remember. And remember, if you think someone may know your password, change it immediately.
7) End any phone calls where you’re worried that the caller might not be who they say they are. If the call is allegedly from your bank and you want to check, wait for a few minutes and call a central number from a different phone. Make sure there is a dialling tone first.
DON’T:
1) Share your personal information (name, home address, bank details, email address or phone number) with any organisation or individual before you know if they’re trustworthy. Make sure you only enter credit or debit card details on secure websites – look out for the padlock symbol or a URL starting with https.
2) Trust emails if you’re not sure of the sender or the email address it has come from. Phishing emails are designed to obtain your personal information and can look genuine, with many imitating bank and building society communications. Find the phone number for the company, bank or building society online or from an official letter you have on file and call them to check.
3) Reveal full passwords, login details or account numbers for your bank account to anyone. If speaking to your bank or building society, an official representative will never ask for your PIN or for a whole security number or password. If someone does ask for this information, don’t give it to them!
For more information about identity theft and fraud, and to get news on the latest scams you need to be aware of, visit Action Fraud.
At Police Mutual, everything we do is for the benefit of our members and the Police Service. That’s why we promise to be open and honest with you about how your data is used, so that you know you can trust us with your personal information. We promise to never sell your information and will only ever use it to contact you about the products you hold with us, special offers, prize draws and important updates you have chosen to hear about from us.
This article was published on Mon 08 Jan 2018. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us
Police Mutual has worked closely with the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO) of England and Wales for over 30 years, supporting retired Police Officers, Staff, Specials and their families through their lives after retirement.
NARPO is a member organisation that believes life can continue to flourish after the Police.
With branches up and down the country, NARPO offer advice and support to their members on life and wellbeing issues, provide new work opportunities and help make the most of new-found leisure time. They strive to help their members enjoy life to the fullest after the Police.
Membership of NARPO offers the following benefits:
Life
Up to date advice and support on police pensions and state benefits
Access to NARPO’s travel and healthcare insurance
NARPO tailored car insurance from Police Mutual
Campaigning on the issues that impact NARPO members
Work
A wide range of full and part-time positions available on NARPO’s website
