A new police uniform has been developed specifically for Muslim women in an attempt to recruit more black and minority ethnic officers. West Yorkshire Police is the first force in the country to launch the new loose fitting uniform ‘designed not to show the female form’, bosses said. It is hoped the uniforms will improve race equality among applicants after police chiefs were told to do more to appeal to BAME recruits.
The force – like many across the country – already allowed female officers to wear the hijab. Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: ‘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.’ Bradford-based PC Firzana Ahmed became the first to wear the new uniform which, she said, had attracted ‘positive feedback from the local community’. [Metro.co.uk] Read more
