Metropolitan Police call centre staff will walk out on New Year's Eve, threatening disruption to non-emergency services during one of the busiest nights of the year for police forces across Britain.
The strike, organised by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, will hit the Met's ability to handle 101 calls as revellers take to the streets and incidents surge across London. Staff are demanding better pay, pensions and job security amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
New Year's Eve traditionally sees a sharp spike in police incidents ranging from public disorder to domestic disputes. Whilst 999 emergency calls remain prioritised, reduced capacity for 101 calls could leave Londoners facing lengthy waits for non-urgent police assistance.
The Metropolitan Police said it has contingency plans to maintain essential services, but the effectiveness of these measures during such a high-demand period remains uncertain.
The industrial action forms part of a broader national dispute, with PCS members across government departments striking throughout the year. The union argues members' pay has failed to keep pace with inflation, creating real-terms cuts and mounting financial pressure on workers.
The timing will pile additional strain on an already stretched police force, with communities potentially struggling to access non-emergency support during a critical 24-hour period when police resources are at their most stretched.