Metropolitan Police staff have voted to strike in protest at being told to return to the office after working remotely for nearly three years – prompting one insider to voice their anger at the decision and pointing out that officers are ”risking their lives on the streets” every day.

More than 50% of the 2,400 Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members in the Met backed industrial action, with many arguing they should be allowed to continue working from home.

Since 2021, Scotland Yard’s 11,000 civilian workers have enjoyed generous hybrid working arrangements, with some spending as few as two days a week in the office.

However, as part of a drive to better support front-line officers and improve public trust in the force, senior officials are pushing for a reduction in remote working.

While operational staff, including Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), 999 call handlers, vetting officers, and child protection staff, will be required to work at least four days a week in the office, support staff in human resources, finance, and estate management roles will have to return at least three days per week.

However, the PCS union, which represents nearly 200,000 civil servants, called the move “unreasonable” and warned that it would create unnecessary stress and financial burden for workers who have adapted well to remote working.

Union leaders argue that their members are just as productive working from home, and the daily commute is both costly and time-consuming.

Nevertheless one senior Met source told The Telegraph: “Most Met police staff understand the vital role they play in keeping London safe.

“We have got officers risking their lives on the streets every day, so it beggars belief that some staff are not willing to come into the office three days a week.”

The strike vote marks the first time Met Police civilian staff have supported industrial action, and should it proceed, there are concerns some front-line officers may be forced to step into civilian roles, potentially compromising public safety.

Senior Met sources expressed their fury and frustration at the potential disruption, saying it undermines efforts to reform the police and deliver better services to the public.

Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of the PCS union, responded to the criticism, saying: “Our members are not bobbies on the beat.

“They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office but without the stress and cost of a daily commute.

“It’s time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers, and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that more than 40% of police jobs currently advertised across England and Wales allow successful applicants to work from home, including sensitive roles such as those investigating child abuse and sexual offences.

Senior Met insiders fear having staff working from home in roles that support operational police officers could lead to increased pressure on officers themselves.

Additionally, a report published on Tuesday by Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, revealed that the force is facing a £450 million budget shortfall, which could result in the loss of 400 police staff and 2,300 officers.

Such financial pressure has only exacerbated concerns that the remote working culture is a barrier to the force’s reform agenda and that it is hampering efforts to deliver the level of service that Londoners expect.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We are disappointed the union felt such action was necessary, but want to reassure Londoners we have contingencies in place to keep them safe. Our policy doesn’t end working from home.

“We have given staff and officers in support roles the ability to work from home up to two days a week. Our plans will provide consistency across the Met and ensure we can deliver for our communities.

“Although the threshold for strike action has been met, it doesn’t have to go ahead and we urge our staff and the union not to take further action.”