Hundreds of Met Police staff begin two-week strike

More than 300 members of Metropolitan Police staff have begun a two-week strike in a dispute over hybrid working.

Workers in the referencing and vetting team had planned to continue working from home despite being expected in the office but were told they would still be docked pay if they did this, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "This hardline approach by Met Police managers has been completely counterproductive, effectively escalating the dispute."

A force spokesperson said: "Public services like call-handling and other front-line roles will be not be affected but, as you would expect, we have full contingency plans in place."

Backroom functions of the police force, including updating the National Crime Database and clearing people through vetting, are expected to be affected until 17 February.

The PCS previously said that managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working that allowed staff to work from home for part of the week.

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.

Ms Heathcote added: "Our members take their jobs very seriously and didn't want to disrupt the important work they do but now they feel their hands have been forced because if they'll lose pay when they're not striking, they felt they might as well lose pay for striking.

"Instead of pouring fuel on the fire by punishing our members for exercising their democratic right to take industrial action, managers should talk to us and try to resolve the issue."

The Met Police spokesperson added: "The vast majority of our hardworking staff are complying with the new hybrid working policy.

"The small percentage intending to strike are part of our vetting and referencing teams.

"We have been engaging with our staff and trade unions for over a year on this policy, which is in line with many other organisations.

"Ultimately, this is about our commitment to delivering a better service for Londoners."

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