Metropolitan Police call centre staff are set to strike on New Year’s Eve over a pay dispute.
Unite confirmed that 175 members employed by the Met will walk out, citing the absence of a pay increase for this financial year. The union described the action as necessary to secure what it considers fair compensation.
Keith Henderson, Unite regional officer, stated: “We know Londoners will be concerned to hear of strikes on New Year’s Eve, but our members at the Met feel they have no choice but to strike in their fight for a fair pay rise.”
The industrial action involves staff who manage crime reporting through call centres, as well as technicians and office employees responsible for servicing and dispatching police vehicles, including cars and motorbikes.
The strike is scheduled to last 25 hours, beginning at 06:00 GMT on 31 December.
Unite said the decision followed the union members’ vote for strike action after not receiving a pay increase for 2025-26. This is despite the Met awarding police officers a 4.2% pay rise and other UK forces providing the same increase to both officers and staff.
The union stated that the Met had offered two provisional pay options: a 3.8% increase, described as “below-RPI,” or a 4.2% rise contingent upon workers accepting “vastly inferior conditions.”
Policing New Year’s Eve last year cost the Met almost £2.3 million, according to Unite.
“As a significant night in policing, strike action will be very disruptive including causing delays to emergency call-outs,” the union added.
