For the first time since it was established NCA staff will withdraw ‘goodwill working’ from January 30 in protest at the Home Office’s refusal to implement a pay award for 2022 which was recommended by the agency’s independent pay review body last year but has been delayed because the Treasury has not signed it off..

This means agency staff will refuse to work beyond their scheduled hours, take NCA work and equipment home, make themselves available for ‘on-call’ duties or skip meal breaks in order to complete tasks.

The National Crime Officers Association (NCOA) - the union which represents many NCA staff  - says withdrawing goodwill will impact on the Agency’s general functioning “given its high reliance on officers going above and beyond to get the job done.”  

Police Oracle understands that a combination of numerous ministerial changes at the Home Office and Treasury plus difficulty in ratifying a pay deal across the board which covers NCA workers with police powers and those without, is holding up the deal.

The body that makes recommendations on NCA pay  - NCARRB – which sits within the same structure as the police pay review board  - made its recommendations in July last year at the same time as the £1,900 award for police officers.

But that report is still embargoed by the Home Office and requires parliamentary time in order to get published. In addition Simon Boon, general secretary of the National Crime Officers Association (NCOA) told Police Oracle that the recommendation was in excess of the figure proposed by the NCA so there appears to be a struggle to afford the rise within existing funding arrangements.

Mr Boon says that his members’ patience has run out. “Whilst we have tried our utmost to engage with Home Secretary, Chief Sec to the Treasury just to encourage them to sign it off there is still no movement and a ratified award in time for February pay packets (6 months late at that point) is now at risk.”

He told Police Oracle: “The frustration and anger amongst staff is palpable and it is my belief that our members’ inability to undertake industrial action is currently being exploited by the Government.”

In December with no pay deal in sight, the NCOA ran a consultative ballot to understand the strength of feeling among members.

While recognising that industrial action was not viable given the legal risk to those who took part in any withdrawal of labour almost 90% supported the withdrawal of goodwill.

Mr Boon added: “On Monday the 30th Jan and until this issue is resolved, for the first time in the 10 year history of the NCA (and the NCOA) our members will be withdrawing goodwill which we consider is achievable, legal and will impact on the Agency’s general functioning - given its high reliance on officers going above and beyond to get the job done.

“Whilst we face a cost-of-living crisis which no one has experienced in the past 40 years, an absent pay award means that delivering goodwill is no longer something our members are willing to do.”

A National Crime Agency spokesperson said: “The NCA is a 24/7 law enforcement agency, and we will continue to operate to protect the UK public from serious and organised crime.  We are working to secure a fair pay award for staff as quickly as possible, and are in regular discussion with trade unions on progress.”