Police staff threatening historic strike over changes to shift patterns

Custody staff, call handlers and civilian investigators at Humberside Police could down tools, with regular officers, who cannot go on strike, having to fill the gap.

Under the plans, aimed at saving £250,000 a year, some staff could go from having 150 days off a year to 117. Around 75 administrative staff working at custody suites could have to work seven days in a row. Unison branch chairman Tad Krawczyk said: “Members are coming up to me and calling for strike action. It has got people really fired up.”

The news came on the day that it emerged that it will cost £2m a year to service the debt incurred by building a controversial £32m police headquarters in Hull, less around £700,000 savings made elsewhere. Former police authority chairman Coun Colin Inglis said: “They have to think very hard whether £250,000 savings from changes to shift patterns is worth the aggravation it is going to cost them, especially as they are spending £1.3m on paying the debt they have incurred on the new police station.”

Humberside Police said a review of shift arrangements showed there were areas in need of improvement.