Police staff strike in favour of working from home

Metropolitan Police civilian staff, including 999 call handlers and child protection officers, have voted to strike in protest over a requirement to spend more time working in the office.

More than half of the 2,400 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union supported the industrial action after being told they would need to return to the office starting in January. Since 2021, around 11,000 civilian staff at the Metropolitan Police have worked under flexible hybrid arrangements, with many spending as few as two days a week in the office.

However, as part of an effort to support frontline officers and restore public confidence in the police, senior management recently instructed staff to reduce their remote working hours. From January, employees in operational roles, including Police Community Support Officers, 999 call handlers, vetting officers, intelligence officers, and child protection workers, will be required to spend at least four days per week in the office.

Those in support roles, such as HR, finance, and estate management, will need to be in the office a minimum of three days a week. The PCS union, which represents nearly 200,000 civil servants, has argued that requiring staff to return to the office is unreasonable, especially given the added stress and expense of commuting.

This is the first time that Metropolitan Police civilian staff have voted for industrial action. If the strike proceeds, frontline officers may have to step into their roles. Senior figures at Scotland Yard are reportedly frustrated by the looming strike threat.

PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members aren't frontline officers. They're desk-based staff who work just as effectively from home without the stress and cost of commuting. It's time for politicians and the media to acknowledge that working from home is a perfectly reasonable option for many workers."

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "We are disappointed by the union's decision to pursue strike action, but want to reassure Londoners that we have contingency plans in place to ensure public safety. Our policy does not end remote work; staff in support roles can still work from home up to two days a week."

The Johnson Partnership 

Nottingham Crime Solicitors