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[Fedster + 1,307]

Many officers felt forced to buy their own in order to look professional.

The trousers have been described as 'substandard'. Picture: Scottish Police Federation

Date - 28th March 2019
By - Hermione Wright

 

Police Scotland confirmed today it will issue officers with a new style of trousers following a flurry of complaints the current uniform is of such poor quality that many have been forced to buy their own.

Concerns were raised during the Scottish Police Federation conference this week, where members of the panel were asked if they are “embarrassed” by recruits turning up to a Tulliallan training site in home-bought slacks. 

The topic was then quickly picked up on Twitter, with many hitting out at the “substandard” and unprofessional-looking trousers that turn from black to grey in three washes. Another quipped they were great “as long as it didn’t rain”.  

One person even referred to the garment as “clown trousers”, and asked for the HMRC’s position regarding a tax rebate for uniform that officers have had no alternative but to buy for themselves.

However, others took a different tact, believing recruits who turn up in their own clothing should be sent home as the police is not a “fashion show”.

Responding to the complaints, Superintendent Tony Beveridge told Police Oracle that concerns about the quality of the trousers were raised last year. He said this was recognised as a fault by the manufacturers and has since been "rectified". 

He said: "It was also recognised there was a demand for cargo style trousers and significant work including forums and trials were carried out.

"We will now issue a cargo style trouser to operational officers which will be issued in summer 2019."

The Fed has been contacted for comment. 

View On Police Oracle

[MajorDisaster + 579]

In my lot we went from the black 'school' pattern trousers - of which you could have as many pairs as you could sneak requests by whoever had to sign them [ok, but did take on a slight dark green hue if washed too hot] to an issue of two pairs of cargo trousers which look less smart but have more pockets including leg pockets which are handy in vehicles and zipped ones which mean you don't lose your 'tuck money' if you have a roll around.  They have sewn in creases which some officers use as a reason not to iron them, but that along with tatty boots is an issue for the supervisor.  I quite like them though they do get heavy when wet.  No one notices if you wear the old style and to be honest, Joe Q Public is just happy to see us at all so really couldn't care less what we are wearing.

[ScotLass + 638]

We have two lots of trousers at present, the thinner wool types and the thicker cotton types. The cotton ones were quite hard wearing for a scrap but were diabolical in the wet and went grey after about 3 washes. The wool ones take a crease well and are light but quite scratchy. Both are in the rather impractical “suit trousers” style which look smart but are a little incongruent with the uniform style - if we still wore shirts it would work but the wicking tops look a bit daft with them.

Personally looking forward to getting these new trews, I have heard good things.

[Dirty harry + 75]

On 30/03/2019 at 17:15, Mazza said:

We have two lots of trousers at present, the thinner wool types and the thicker cotton types. The cotton ones were quite hard wearing for a scrap but were diabolical in the wet and went grey after about 3 washes. The wool ones take a crease well and are light but quite scratchy. Both are in the rather impractical “suit trousers” style which look smart but are a little incongruent with the uniform style - if we still wore shirts it would work but the wicking tops look a bit daft with them.

Personally looking forward to getting these new trews, I have heard good things.

The dark blue cargo trousers that the turnkeys wear look a lot smarter.

[sierragolf95 + 56]

5 hours ago, Dirty harry said:

The dark blue cargo trousers that the turnkeys wear look a lot smarter.

They're no longer issued, it's the standard black ones for all staff now

[Dirty harry + 75]

9 hours ago, sierragolf95 said:

They're no longer issued, it's the standard black ones for all staff now

Still worn by most in the station I work in. Must be those who have managed to hang onto them. 

[sierragolf95 + 56]

3 hours ago, Dirty harry said:

Still worn by most in the station I work in. Must be those who have managed to hang onto them. 

Yeah anyone who's got them will be hanging onto them, people would rather repair them repeatedly than move to the new ones

[Richhamdo + 877]

3 hours ago, sierragolf95 said:

Yeah anyone who's got them will be hanging onto them, people would rather repair them repeatedly than move to the new ones

@sierragolf95,  I must say I was one of them,  . I  was issued two  pairs originally    [seventies  era] of the wool variety which fit me like a glove. Over the years i got a hedge tear in both pairs of about half an inch or just over, both down near the right ankle/calf by some strange coincidence. One was caused by barbed wire climbing over a farm fence and the other by a Labrador which my reg partner had let escape from the police kennel while bedding it down for the night. We had just come back from picking it up in the big van [someone had tied it to a tree],  i managed to rugby tackle it in the back yard before it got onto the road. This dog tore my trouser with his paw when i got hold of him. 

My mum repaired both pairs bless her,  and i cant recall anyone making any comment about them. She made a tidy job even though i say it myself. I did acquire a new pair later on from the clothing dept for parades and similar duties. On the whole replacement  uniform was not easy to get sanctioned  at all from about the late nineties i thought, but we could  get tickets to take stuff to the cleaners which i guess was very thoughtful of them.. Rich.