Port of Tilbury-Police Constable

[Fedster + 1,307]

New clothing made available for officers.

PC Firzana Ahmed with CC Dee Collins and colleagues

 

A force has introduced a new looser fitting uniform for female officers – in a bid to make it a more welcoming place for Muslim women to work.

West Yorkshire Police has been trialling the new clothing, which is designed not to "show the female form", and is now making it available to anyone who wants it.

Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: “West Yorkshire Police is working extremely hard to ensure that we are representative of the communities we serve.

“We know that we need to do more to increase the proportion of police officers from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) in the force and there’s still more that we can do.

“For the last month we have been trialling a new uniform for women which is designed not to show the female form. This was suggested by a Muslim female officer and was designed by our clothing manager in conjunction with the officer.

“The tunic is a looser and longer fit, and has full sleeves.

“This has been well-received from officers in the force and we have now made further supplies of this uniform for other officers to trial it if they wish.”

It has been trialled by Bradford-based PC Firzana Ahmed so far, and the force says it has had positive feedback from the local community.

ACC Williams added: “I hope this uniform will encourage people from underrepresented groups to consider a career in policing if they had previously been put off joining the Force due to the uniform, and we are open to suggestions from all communities on how our uniform can be styled to better suit their needs.”

Police Oracle revealed earlier this month that West Yorkshire PCC Mark Burns-Williamson is recruiting a race equality consultant to help address issues for BAME communities.

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[Hyphen + 693]

I don’t know if I’m missing something here but I just don’t get this. I am all for inclusion but uniform is uniform. It’s already pretty unisex, I don’t see why this is required. It looks untidy and like an untucked shirt that is too big. 

 

[Zulu 22 + 4,574]

3 hours ago, Hyphen said:

I don’t know if I’m missing something here but I just don’t get this. I am all for inclusion but uniform is uniform. It’s already pretty unisex, I don’t see why this is required. It looks untidy and like an untucked shirt that is too big. 

It is Political Correctness gone mad, yet again. Uniform is uniform, full stop.

[Beaker 817]

To be fair the Double2 tops can be a little tight. They're not really suitable for some of the more well endowed girls.

[mike88 + 257]

I don't see the point, it's not like standard female police officer's uniform is exactly revealing is it?

At a distance I wouldn't necessarily recognise that person in the photo as a police officer. I might assume they're a traffic warden or security guard or something. The only thing that looks police issue is the cap.

[Reasonable Man + 1,231]

I don't see the point, it's not like standard female police officer's uniform is exactly revealing is it?
At a distance I wouldn't necessarily recognise that person in the photo as a police officer. I might assume they're a traffic warden or security guard or something. The only thing that looks police issue is the cap.

If someone had been in a coma since shirts and ties and tunics went out they would say the same about the current uniform of cargo trousers and black wicking shirts.
Guess the Victorian bobbies would say the same when the saw police officers without high collars and capes.
Uniform changes over time and this is just another change, so what. Personally I think for a lot of women the current uniform looks terrible. The one in the picture is better than the one I see regularly. Put a stabby over it and who would notice?

[Hyphen + 693]

1 minute ago, Reasonable Man said:

If someone had been in a coma since shirts and ties and tunics went out they would say the same about the current uniform of cargo trousers and black wicking shirts.
Guess the Victorian bobbies would say the same when the saw police officers without high collars and capes.
Uniform changes over time and this is just another change, so what. Personally I think for a lot of women the current uniform looks terrible. The one in the picture is better than the one I see regularly. Put a stabby over it and who would notice?

It’s not just women though. Both men and women are of all shapes and sizes. Some may look better than others but that’s irrelevant. It’s a uniform. Why don’t we just do away with it then? Or go back to the days of a men’s and women’s uniform? Of course not it’s unacceptable.

Whats to stop me then just getting my own bits and pieces to wear, maybe have my shirt untucked too because I feel better, how far do we go, maybe wear some trainers. I’m sure my inspector will be very understanding.

[Mac7 808]

Is there an evidence base to support this idea that uniform is a barrier to entry for some recruits?

[Reasonable Man + 1,231]

It’s not just women though. Both men and women are of all shapes and sizes. Some may look better than others but that’s irrelevant. It’s a uniform. Why don’t we just do away with it then? Or go back to the days of a men’s and women’s uniform? Of course not it’s unacceptable.
Whats to stop me then just getting my own bits and pieces to wear, maybe have my shirt untucked too because I feel better, how far do we go, maybe wear some trainers. I’m sure my inspector will be very understanding.

I don’t see where this argument fits. They are not saying some people can make their own additions and adaptations to the existing uniform, they have added to it.
It’s not like there is one single, standard uniform anyway. In the force I where I currently work there are six different hats, four different shirts, three different trousers, several coats/jackets. Add your own footwear and the uniform isn’t actually uniform at all. This just adds another type of shirt.

[mike88 + 257]

8 hours ago, Reasonable Man said:

If someone had been in a coma since shirts and ties and tunics went out they would say the same about the current uniform of cargo trousers and black wicking shirts.
Guess the Victorian bobbies would say the same when the saw police officers without high collars and capes.
Uniform changes over time and this is just another change, so what. Personally I think for a lot of women the current uniform looks terrible. The one in the picture is better than the one I see regularly. Put a stabby over it and who would notice?

Of course uniform changes. They specifically said this change is because its less showing of the female form, my point was I didn’t think current female police uniform does this anyway it’s pretty much unisex as it is. Is this change something people actually want or is it a couple of people’s bright idea to further their career at the expense of the force? Like Mac7 said is there any evidence it’s what Muslims consider a barrier? The whole thing seems unnecessary.

[Beaker 817]

I'd like a black shirt for under my stabby. White is a silly idea, but a shirt would certainly look a little smarter. Also likely fit better and last longer.

[Richhamdo + 872]

Some very interesting comments above  but I know how it feels to be on foot patrol in bits of uniform that you are very uncomfortable in and it can be difficult to concentrate on the matter in hand. I had a lot of practice in my first fifteen or twenty years as a special. I even had a cape issued to me for  my first six months,a cast off as nothing else was available. This was replaced by a long gabardine black raincoat down to my calves which was an abomination. It was either wearing such like or getting soaked. I had to resort to acquiring cast off stuff from the regulars who got all the new gear issued. I was most happy in the NATO jumper, probably about the first time we were all dressed alike. , i can truthfully say i wasnt even aware sometimes i was in uniform at all when out on patrol sorting out troublemakers. happy days. 

I have to say that the issue doesn’t bother me unduly if the officer is happy in her work and the people she deals with are comfortable to speak with her. ( plus it  might get A few more recruits to help out) . Judging  by the photo she looks happy enough and personaly i always liked to see happy police officers and specials although I concede that we cant have all of the bobbies happy all of the time. 

I’m not sure if others have been looking at a different photo of this  uniform to me. but i cant see any detail of it to make a fair comment. All i can see is just the armour, i am given to understand it was designed by a Muslim officer in conjunction with the clothing department. There was bound to be a ‘trade off’ with the final outcome re practicality and appearance i would have thought, a bit like the turban that some wear. Is the ACC “sensitive to the feeling of others”, I think i could tick that particular box probably. Rich.

[Hyphen + 693]

3 hours ago, Reasonable Man said:

I don’t see where this argument fits. They are not saying some people can make their own additions and adaptations to the existing uniform, they have added to it.
It’s not like there is one single, standard uniform anyway. In the force I where I currently work there are six different hats, four different shirts, three different trousers, several coats/jackets. Add your own footwear and the uniform isn’t actually uniform at all. This just adds another type of shirt.

I do take your point relating to different uniforms particularly with different units, it’s a fair point.

The issue I have with this though is why do we have to continually create artificial division. As others have said why is this needed for Muslim female officers? Why is wearing a unisex uniform such a bar to people from that background joining? Is this not something that has been made up to look like a problem has been solved that didn’t exist in the first place? 

[Mac7 808]

I understand the “uniform is uniform” argument and I’m probably in that camp. If you don’t like the uniform then.......tough in my opinion. However if this force is going to alter or add to the current uniform for one particular group of officers, then why not all? After all Muslim men also dress conservatively in baggy clothing. Shalwar Kameez, dishadahas?? How about Jewish officers. Then we come into areas such as officers suffering with body dysmorphia. Where is the line drawn.

 

Why single out female Muslim officers when, I’m sure, others would like suitable additions.

 

[Reasonable Man + 1,231]

I understand the “uniform is uniform” argument and I’m probably in that camp. If you don’t like the uniform then.......tough in my opinion. However if this force is going to alter or add to the current uniform for one particular group of officers, then why not all? After all Muslim men also dress conservatively in baggy clothing. Shalwar Kameez, dishadahas?? How about Jewish officers. Then we come into areas such as officers suffering with body dysmorphia. Where is the line drawn.
 
Why single out female Muslim officers when, I’m sure, others would like suitable additions.
 

Call me naive but hopefully there won’t be any differentiation and this will be a uniform option for everyone to avail themselves of. As for the others we have uniform turbans for Sikhs and an officer with body dysmorphia should have uniform adapted accordingly as a reasonable adjustment - not to do so could well be illegal.
I’ve had it myself - being particularly long of leg I had an extra piece sewn on to my PSU overalls. (They wouldn’t let me have tartan a la Bay City Rollers fashion.)