Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) across Staffordshire - including those who serve our area - have backed strike action in a row with Staffordshire Police over changes to their working hours.
What has changed?
New shift patterns, which came into force this week, mean PCSOs now finish their latest shifts at 21:00 rather than 22:00, reducing evening patrols. Officers are also being trained to take witness statements as part of the shake-up.
The force says the changes are data-driven, will save around £700,000 a year, and will put more PCSOs on duty during the busiest times - delivering a better service for the public overall.
Why are PCSOs unhappy?
Union Unison, which balloted all 160 PCSOs in the county, says the result showed "overwhelming" support for industrial action, potentially including walkouts. The union argues the changes will:
- Reduce the visibility of PCSOs at key times, compromising public safety
- Cut the pay of some officers by as much as 14%
"Our members do not want to take industrial action but neither are they prepared to accept the proposed changes to their terms and conditions of employment," a Unison spokesperson said.
What happens next?
Unison says it will continue to support its members while seeking "meaningful engagement" with the force to resolve the dispute. Staffordshire Police said it was disappointed by the ballot result but would work with officers and the union toward a solution, asking people to "refrain from commentary and speculation" in the meantime.
Source: bbc.co.uk
