Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
Retained/On-Call Pension
Matthews Second Options.
Matthews Second Options
On-call firefighters in England brought proceedings (in what has become known as the Matthews case) relating in part to their exclusion from the 1992 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme, which was then provided solely to full-time firefighters. As a result of the Matthews case, on-call firefighters were allowed to join the 2006 Firefighters' Pension Scheme (“the 2006 Scheme”) from 6 April 2006.
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(See Matthews v. Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority [2006] ICR 365)
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Following the Matthews case, the 2006 Scheme was amended to give eligible on-call firefighters, employed between 1 July 2000 and 5 April 2006 inclusive, retrospective access to the 2006 Scheme as “special members” (special firefighter members, special deferred members or special pensioner members).
Fire and Rescue Authorities in England (“FRAs”) then carried out an options exercise which opened on 1 April 2014 and closed on 30 September 2015 (“the first options exercise”), which was intended to allow existing and former on-call firefighters with service between 1 July 2000 and 5 April 2006 an opportunity to join the 2006 Scheme, as special members, subject to the payment of appropriate contributions in respect of their service during that period.
After the first options exercise closed, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled (in what has become known as the O'Brien case) on 7 November 2018, that a part-time fee-paid judge should have his pension backdated to include his service prior to 1 July 2000.
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(See Case C-432/17 O’Brien v. Ministry of Justice ECLI:EU:C:2018:879)
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AllendaleAllendale Community Fire Station Forstersteads Shilburn Road Allendale Northumberland NE47 9LG This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle. The facilities here are shared with Sure Start (family and toddler support group).
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AlnwickAlnwick Community Fire Station Blackthorn Close Lionheart Enterprise Park Alnwick Northumberland NE66 2ER This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for two fire engines and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle.
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AmbleAmble Community Fire Station Coquetdale Industrial Estate Amble Northumberland NE65 0PE This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle that can also be used as a fire fogging unit. These facilities are shared with North East Ambulance Service.
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BelfordBelford Community Fire Station The Meadows Belford Northumberland NE70 7NZ This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle that can also be used as a fire fogging unit.
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BellinghamBellingham Community Fire Station Bellingham Northumberland NE48 2JS This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle that can also be used as a fire fogging unit. The facilities here are shared with Northumbria Police and Sure Start (family and toddler support group).
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BerwickBerwick Community Fire Station Ord Road Tweedmouth Berwick upon Tweed Northumberland TD15 2XU This fire station is staffed by both full-time and On-call firefighters, and is the base for two fire engines, a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle and a Water Rescue Unit. The station is also the base for specialist equipment including animal rescue equipment and equipment for dealing with chemical incidents.
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HaltwhistleHaltwhistle Community Fire Station Park Road Haltwhistle Northumberland NE49 9BW This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle that can also be used as a fire fogging unit.
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HexhamHexham Fire Station Maidens Walk Hexham Northumberland NE46 1DR This fire station is staffed by both full-time and On-call firefighters, and is the base for two fire engines, a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle and a Water Rescue Unit. The station is also the base for specialist equipment including animal rescue equipment and equipment for dealing with chemical incidents.
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Holy IslandHoly Island Fire Station This fire station is unstaffed and houses a fire engine. In the event of a fire or rescue emergency on the island, fire crews from neighbouring stations will drive onto the island via the tidal causeway between the island and mainland. If the tidal causeway is closed, fire crews are then taken to the island by boat or helicopter.
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PegswoodPegswood Community Fire Station Pegswood Northumberland NE61 6SJ This fire station is staffed by full-time and On-call firefighters and is the base for three fire engines, a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle, a High Volume Pumping unit, a Water Rescue Unit, a Flood Prevention Unit and an Incident Support Unit. The fire station is also the site for our breathing apparatus training facility. The station is also the base for specialist equipment including animal rescue equipment and equipment for dealing with chemical incidents. The facilities here are currently shared with local partners, including Northumberland Probation Service and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team. This fire station is a community resource with meeting rooms of various sizes, with multimedia facilities and free internet access. Meeting rooms are available for hire to organisations and community groups, and catering can be provided.
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PontelandPonteland Community Fire Station Callerton Lane Ponteland Northumberland NE20 9EY This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle.
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PrudhoePrudhoe Community Fire Station Front Street Prudhoe Northumberland NE42 5DQ This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle. The facilities here are shared with North East Ambulance Service.
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RothburyRothbury Community Fire Station Coquet View Rothbury Northumberland NE65 7RZ This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle that can also be used as a fire fogging unit. The crews are also trained as Water First Responders which provides them with a greater capability at water incidents. The facilities here are also shared with Sure Start (family and toddler support group).
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SeahousesSeahouses Community Fire Station Main Street North Sunderland Seahouses Northumberland NE68 7TZ This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle. The facilities here are shared with Sure Start (family and toddler support group).
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WoolerWooler Community Fire Station 28 South Road Wooler Northumberland NE71 6NJ This fire station is staffed by On-call firefighters and is the base for a fire engine and a multi-purpose 4x4 vehicle that can also be used as a fire fogging unit. The facilities here are shared with Sure Start (family and toddler support group).
