Civilian staff at the Met Police are to be balloted for strike action in a row over pay, with unions accusing the force of treating them as "second-class citizens", the BBC reports.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said around 6,500 of its members will be asked to vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch industrial action.

At the heart of the dispute is the union's demand for a £1,250 London allowance, which is paid to police officers but not to civilian employees. PCS described the policy as a "symbol of inequality in the Met".

Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: "While management promotes the idea of 'One Met', police staff are consistently treated as second-class on pay, promotion and job security.

"Officers receive the allowance and free travel while many of our dedicated members who support them struggle to make ends meet in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

"It's time to transform 'One Met' from empty rhetoric into reality, creating a workplace that guarantees fairness, equality and respect for all."

The Met Police defended its position, saying pay and allowances for staff and officers are "completely different", reflecting "fundamental differences in roles, responsibilities and expectations."

A spokesperson added that in a year when the force is reducing officer and staff numbers to close a budget gap, it "cannot justify spending millions to give staff the £1,250 award, as there are not the same challenges recruiting and keeping our staff as we do officers".

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