Metropolitan Police staff go on strike

PCS picket line from a previous strike; X

Police drafted in to cover jobs of striking workers, including 999 call handlers

Civilian police staff in the Metropolitan Police are taking strike action today.

Almost 6,500 Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members employed by the Met voted to walk out on Wednesday 5 November, Bonfire Night, which is one of the busiest days of the year for the police, because they want the same cost of living payment police officers receive for living in London.

The action by civilian staff will mean police officers will have to be redeployed to cover some of their roles, at a greater cost to the taxpayer.

The staff work in a variety of roles: 999 call handlers, detention officers, police community support officers, public access officers, as well as in vetting, intelligence, forensics, counter terrorism, admin, finance, and HR.

Angry over what they see as the double-standard of paying officers a fully consolidated £1,250 London allowance that isn’t available to police staff, they voted last week for strike action by an overwhelming margin of 93%.

A spokesperson for the PCS said:

‘The Met Police is making plans to redeploy some of its 34,000 police officers to cover striking police staff’s work. The cost of overtime and cancelled days off is, however, likely to exceed the total cost of the £1,250 each that our members are due.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:

“Rent, mortgage repayments, food prices and energy bills have been rising for everyone in London – so why does the Met treat its civilian staff differently to officers?

“Removing police officers from frontline duties is both negligent and careless. The Met has deliberately ignored our practical solutions, aware that its continued commitment to a two-tier workforce would lead to strikes.

“To prevent any disruption to the vital services our members provide to the people of London every day, this payment must be paid immediately to civilian staff.”

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