Talks on suitability of police uniform ‘really valuable’, says Policing Minister
Discussions on the first ever national perspective on police uniform and equipment, led by Lancaster University, have been described as “really valuable” by the Minister of State for Policing and Crime.
Survey results, announced earlier this year, revealed police officers and staff in England and Wales were frustrated with their uniforms, which they said, were unfit for purpose, restrictive and contributed to major health issues including musculoskeletal issues, crushed testicles and cysts in breasts.
Researchers Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace from Lancaster University, National Board members from the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), Zac Mader and Belinda Goodwin, and Superintendent Helen Brear from West Yorkshire Police met with the Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP, to share the results from the first National Uniform and Equipment Survey.
The meeting, held at the Home Office in London, also discussed the survey recommendations which set out to improve police uniform and equipment for officers and staff, and remove the “post-code lottery of experience” across forces in England and Wales.
The Minister said: “This was a really valuable discussion of the findings of the National Uniform and Equipment Survey.
“Ensuring officers and staff have suitable, fit‑for‑purpose uniforms and equipment is of the utmost importance – so they can do their jobs effectively and keep our communities safe.”
The attendees said the meeting had been productive and recommendations had clearly aligned with the Government’s reform agenda for policing.
The research was undertaken by Dr De Camargo and Dr Wallace, working in collaboration with PFEW senior researcher Dr Sahrish Khan, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
The survey, carried out in 2024, included 20,838 respondents, of which 86 per cent were police officers and 14 per cent police staff, with 34 per cent female and 66 per cent male.
The study said that, given the amount of time police officers and staff spend in uniform, having a more functional uniform would increase officer safety and the ability to complete every-day tasks, such as walking, running, climbing, and ultimately, making police workers more effective.
The results of the National Uniform and Equipment Survey reveal the majority of respondents (56 per cent) report their overall experience of wearing the police uniform in England and Wales as overwhelmingly negative.
This is compared with just 20 per cent who regard their experience in the uniform as positive while six in ten (64 per cent) of respondents report that the uniform restricts their movement and reduces their effectiveness.
The overall findings reflect the experiences and opinions of uniform wearers and includes both police officers and police staff from the 43 forces of England and Wales, who currently wear uniform as part of their police role.