PCSOs to be balloted on strike action

Police community support officers (PCSOs) in Staffordshire are being balloted over strike action in a dispute over working patterns and public safety, the Unison union has said.

About 160 are understood to be involved, with the ballot closing on 15 May.

The union said members faced proposed changes to working patterns, including reduced evening and weekend staffing and the introduction of additional duties like routinely taking statements. This, the union said, would undermine "the core principle of neighbourhood policing and jeopardise public safety".

Staffordshire Police said the changes followed a consultation process and would not affect its "commitment to deliver visible local policing".

It said the number of neighbourhood police officers had increased by 53 in line with the government's neighbourhood policing guarantee, and there would be an additional 26 this year.

However, Unison West Midlands regional organiser Ashley Morley said the proposals went beyond changes to working patterns.

"They undermine the very foundation of neighbourhood policing," he said.

"PCSOs are the front-line staff that keep communities feeling safe.

"Reducing that visibility at crucial times could compromise public safety and public confidence."

He added that the proposals threatened PCSOs' pay and conditions, and were being "pushed through with minimal consultation". .

"This marks an unprecedented step for support officers in the West Midlands," he said.

"Staffordshire Police must pause these ill-advised changes and begin talks to resolve the dispute."

A spokesperson for the force said its patrol strategy had been reviewed to ensure a visible policing presence in key areas at key times throughout the day and evening.

It said this had allowed the force to deliver 16,000 hours of high-visibility patrols and make an additional 536 arrests within the past 12 months.

"Our priority is to support PCSOs during this process and to continue to deliver effective policing to support local communities," they added.

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