RETIRED MEMBERS - BLUE LIGHT CARDS

The battle for access to a Blue Light Card continues with a totally intransigent company. We have been in a constant dispute for a long time now and seem no further forward.

We are constantly told the situation will be reviewed, but it never happens. Some members have contacted their MPs and Blue Light has told them the reason they won’t issue the card is because there is no way to establish that a person was a prison officer.

That is wrong; Blue Light has been told by the National Chair and this committee that we can verify a person was a prison officer using an e-membership card. We sent an example and received the message that the situation would be reviewed once again.

We are in communication with the Fire Brigades Union as were led to believe some retired firefighters are also having similar issues. If this proves to be the case, we can take the problem forward together. Below is my latest communication with Blue Light's CEO:

"Hi Rich,

Do you have any update on allowing retired Prison Officers who are ex-Emergency Service workers and have served on the front line in difficult and dangerous situations, some for many years, access to a Blue Light card, in line with other emergency service retired members? This issue has dragged on for quite a while now and we are constantly told you will review the situation.

There have been numerous communications regarding this issue and quite a few MPs have become involved. Recently, an MP was told the issue was because you could not verify a person was a prison officer. We have constantly said we would provide proof of this and I provided an example of an e-membership card and were told this would be assessed.

To date there hasn’t been any movement on an issue that has dragged on for a lengthy period and I’m anxious to resolve this issue rather than constantly being told you will review the situation but not being given any reply as to a solution.

Regards,

Steve Whitfield"

To help bring about a conclusion to this issue, we are asking members to contact their MPs and email, Rich Wykes, on RichWykes@bluelightcard.co.uk.