Control room strike threat to police

STRIKE action is set to hit Hampshire Constabulary's 999 control room near Southampton. A formal ballot of UNISON members revealed more than 76 per cent of 69 members returning papers were in favour of strike action over pay and new conditions that bosses want to bring in. A total of 188 employees work at the control room at Netley, Southampton, of whom 161 are civilian staff. The control room receives all 999 calls in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and is the operations centre for all radio communications and dispatch of police to incidents. UNISON claims Hampshire Constabulary's proposed shift changes will mean staff lose between £60 and £95 per month in wages and they will be required to work more hours. The union also claims staff will have to work more overtime and that a chronic shortage of control room staff will... [read full story]