A PLANNED strike for Monday, December 22, involving Unison police staff has been suspended.

Union members will also not be taking a month-long ban on voluntary overtime, which was due to start on January 5, to allow further talks to take place.

Charlie Sarell, regional organiser for police and justice for Unison, said: “Suspending the strike action provides a window of opportunity for positive talks between Unison and the employers.

“We welcome the decision by the employers to work with the union to achieve an improved offer which we can put to our members.

“Our members play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe and they deserve a salary that recognises this.”

Earlier in 2014, the union asked for a 3 per cent, or £500, increase – whichever is the greater – on police staff pay points.

The police employers responded with a 1 per cent offer, which lead to a strike ballot which closed on December 2, with 60 per cent of members voting yes for industrial action and 80 per cent for action short of a strike.