Strike Ballot over Pay in Met Police

PCS is balloting 6,500 members for strike action following the Met Police’s refusal to extend the £1,250 London Allowance to civilian police staff - despite previously agreeing to discuss it during 2024/25 pay talks.

Our members support the Met in roles like 999 call handling, intel analysis, HR, IT support, specialist technical support and have roles such as public access officers dealing with reported crime and custody staff. In effect they keep the Met running.

The London allowance, already paid to police officers, is meant to reflect the high cost of living in the capital. But the employer is now refusing to pay the allowance to our members, claiming the payment was to target officer recruitment and retention issues. This contradicts the Met Police’s submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body, which cited financial pressures in London as a key concern.

Police officers also enjoy free travel, another benefit denied to our members.

The Met Police offered to make a reduced, non-consolidated payment of £625 to bands A-D and £1050 to bands E, but this does not meet our demands and we are therefore balloting members for strike action.

The ballot opens on Thursday 18 September and closes on Thursday 9 October.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:

“The £1,250 allowance has become a symbol of inequality in the Met. While management promotes the idea of ‘One Met,’ police staff are consistently treated as second-class on pay, promotion and job security.

“Officers receive the allowance and free travel while many of our dedicated members who support them struggle to make ends meet in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

“It’s time to transform ‘One Met’ from empty rhetoric into reality, creating a workplace that guarantees fairness, equality and respect for all.”

PCS is also continuing talks with the Met and ACAS on our dispute concerning flexible/hybrid working and reasonable adjustments.