A police officer who was hospitalised as a result of the 2018 Salisbury Novichok attack has been left “fighting for part of his pension”, according to comments from his wife on Twitter.

Sarah Bailey, wife of former detective sergeant Nick Bailey, was responding to comments from Wiltshire Police Federation chairman, Mark Andrews, about the support provided to Det Sgt Bailey.

In particular, Andrews had written in the latest issue of Police Federation of England and Wales magazine that the federation had “helped Nick to get the compensation package he deserved and supported him with insurance and his legal claim for injury at work”.

In response, Bailey tweeted: “Not quite sure where to start with this. Compensation package? injury on duty pay out? Nick retired 7 weeks ago and he’s still fighting for part of his pension. You even said he resigned. Not the case at all, he’s been medically retired!”

However, Wiltshire Police Federation stated that Det Sgt Bailey had not been forced to retire from the force and that the pension issue was a matter for the provider.

A statement from the federation added: “Since Nick Bailey found himself at the centre of the Novichok international incident, Wiltshire Police have worked with him and his family to provide continuing support to help them deal with the impact of this terrible incident and assist him to try and return to active police duties.

“It was with great sadness that regrettably this was not possible and Nick left the Force in Oct 2020 with our very best wishes for the future.

"It would be wholly inappropriate for us to further comment publicly on private matters relating to a former police officer.”

Det Sgt Bailey, who had worked with the police force for almost two decades, was contaminated by the Novichok nerve agent after touching the door handle of the home of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy and double agent who had been the target of the attack.

He left the force in October 2020, stating that he “had to admit defeat” and stating that he could no longer do the job.

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