Met Police civilian staff vote for strike action

The new policy would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers

Metropolitan Police staff have voted to go on strike over office working.

A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) ballot showed overwhelming support for industrial action, with 85% of members who voted saying yes to taking strike action and 91% voting for action short of a strike.

The PCS said it showed the depth of feeling after managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working that allowed staff to work from home part of the week.

The Met said it was "disappointed" by the vote for strike action, but added it had "contingencies in place" for policing.

The new policy, which the union says requires staff to work in the office for between 60% and 100% of the time, would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers.

'Not bobbies on the beat'

The PCS said the policy "disproportionately impacts" women, part-time workers and those with disabilities.

According to the union, it is the first time Met Police employees have voted for industrial action.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are not bobbies on the beat.

"They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute."

She added: "It's time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people."

A Met spokesperson said PCS members include staff who are not desk-only, such as frontline police community support officers (PCSOs) and crime scene officers.

They added the plans had been put forward to provide "consistency" across the force.

"Our policy doesn't end working from home, we have given staff and officers in support roles the ability to work from home up to two days a week."

Speaking about the walkout, the spokesperson said: "We know this will raise questions about our ability to serve London, but we want to reassure the public we have contingencies in place to keep them safe."