Staff in the Forensic Science Service are to start a work to rule and ban overtime after a national strike yesterday, the first in the government agency's history.
Court cases could be delayed by the campaign by staff who collect and analyse evidence in serious offences for all 43 police forces in England and Wales, as well as Customs and Excise and the Crown Prosecution Service. A 1.1% pay offer made last year has not been accepted by the union.
Yesterday's walkout affected laboratories in London, Birmingham, Huntingdon, Chorley, Wetherby and Chepstow, with dispensation granted only to staff involved in ongoing court cases or called to emergency crime scenes.
Prospect, the main trade union involved, said a science graduate with 10 years' experience earned £25,000 compared with up to £40,000 for a detective inspector. Kevin Maguire
