Cheshire Chief Constable Simon Byrne says a 24-hour strike by police staff on New Year’s Eve could be seen as a ‘disproportionate and cynical act’.

But trade union Unison say the timing reveals the ‘desperation’ staff feel about being forced to work on their days off for no extra pay.

Emergency call handlers, some PCSOs, custody officers, and crime scene investigators are among civilians taking part in the action which begins at 7am on January 31.

Chief Constable Mr Byrne said: “The 24 hours selected for the threatened strike include those hours that are traditionally the busiest of the year in policing terms.

“This could be seen as a disproportionate and cynical act at a time when hard decisions are being taken to preserve service levels and local jobs.

“I hope that union leaders will rethink this threat and ensure that industrial action does not put any members of the public at any increased risk.

Police officers will continue to work as normal. And Unison will consider exemptions on the day if any requests are forthcoming based on risk to life or limb.

Mr Byrne said contingency plans were now being developed based on a priority of public protection.

“Police officer shifts will be reviewed and we will make some hard decisions about where we place our police officers and other staff resources in the event of a strike,” he added.

But Unison says police staff are understandably upset at being forced to work on days off for no extra pay. Previously, staff could volunteer to give up their rest days during times of peak demand, such as the Creamfields festival, but were paid overtime.

Explaining the timing behind the New Year’s Eve stoppage, Maria Moss, regional organiser for Unison North West, said: “Police staff are very committed to the service they provide and to the safety of the public. They would not be taking action if they thought it would endanger public safety.

“The decision to strike on New Year’s Eve reflects the desperation staff feel about the employer’s imposition of changes to rest days.

“Police staff work very hard and they need their rest days. The proposed changes would have a major negative impact on the lives and incomes of police staff and they feel they have no option but to do all they can to try to avert this.

“For some, the imposition of this change would mean that they could no longer stay in their current jobs in 2015.”