Emergency call response times in London are set to face significant disruption on New Year's Eve, as Metropolitan Police control room staff prepare for a major strike over pay.
25-Hour Walkout on One of the Busiest Nights
The industrial action, organised by the trade union Unite, will see approximately 175 members walk out for 25 hours, beginning at 6am on 31 December. The union anticipates the strike will be "very disruptive," leading to inevitable delays to emergency call-outs on one of the force's most demanding nights of the year.
Those taking part include office staff who service and dispatch police vehicles, employees who record crime reports, and technical support workers. Unite has acknowledged that Londoners will have legitimate "concerns" but states its members feel they have "no choice" but to take action.
Pay Dispute at the Heart of the Action
The strike follows complaints that staff have not received a pay increase from the Met for this financial year. Unite regional officer Keith Henderson explained the difficult position, saying: "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 union points out that while police officers and all other UK forces received a 4.2 per cent pay rise, their members in the Met's call centres did not. The cost of policing the capital's New Year's Eve celebrations last year was nearly £2.3 million, according to Unite.
Double Strike Blow for Public Services
The police strike coincides with a separate, contentious walkout by resident doctors in the NHS, creating a dual crisis for public services during the festive period. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has condemned the doctors' action, labelling it as "self-indulgent, irresponsible and dangerous" and warning of potential "fatal harm."
He accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of choosing "Christmas strikes to inflict damage on the NHS at the moment of maximum danger," and stated the government's rejected offer would have put more money in junior doctors' pockets. The BMA is seeking a further 26% pay rise, on top of what the government says is a 28.9% increase already received.
With both strikes proceeding, London faces a heightened strain on its essential services, placing unprecedented pressure on remaining emergency and healthcare workers during a traditionally challenging time.
