Hundreds of Metropolitan Police civilian staff will strike again in the coming weeks after Unite the Union announced fresh walkout dates over an ongoing pay dispute affecting London's police operations.
The industrial action will hit essential services across the capital, with detention officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), and 999 call handlers all set to down tools. These workers handle suspects in custody, respond to emergency calls, and maintain vital community policing presence.
Unite members have rejected what they describe as an inadequate pay offer that fails to match rising living costs, particularly acute in London where many staff struggle to afford basic necessities despite working for the country's largest police force.
The union argues years of real-terms pay cuts have left civilian staff unable to cope with inflationary pressures hitting households across Britain. Members say the national pay award for police staff fails to recognise their crucial contributions to public safety.
The strikes threaten to disrupt core police operations at a time when the Met relies heavily on civilian staff to support frontline officers. Emergency call handling and detention services could face significant interruption, potentially affecting response times and the force's ability to manage incidents effectively.
Unite has called on the Metropolitan Police and government authorities to return to negotiations with an improved offer, warning that further disruption to London's police services is inevitable without a fair settlement that reflects staff dedication and responsibilities.