Police Scotland abandons mandatory facial hair policy proposal

Police Scotland has discontinued proposals that would have required numerous frontline officers and personnel to remove their facial hair. This clean-shaven policy was initially scheduled for implementation in May of the previous year but generated significant controversy, leading to a 12-month delay in its introduction. The police force has since informed BBC Scotland News that it currently has “no plans” to implement these alterations. A total of £60,000 was disbursed by Police Scotland to four officers who initiated legal proceedings after receiving instructions to shave. The Scottish Police Federation, which serves as the representative body for rank and file officers, characterized the policy as having “no thought, no regard to equality and a draconian approach to common sense.” In May 2023, BBC Scotland News observed a communication on Police Scotland’s internal website from Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs, who was in that role at the time, detailing intentions to implement a clean-shaven policy. The communication stated that despite a reduction in the risk posed by coronavirus, broader hazards persisted for officers, such as fires, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment. This equipment encompassed FFP3 facemasks, which mandate users to be clean-shaven. Provisions for exemptions based on factors like religion and disability would have been included. However, the Scottish Police Federation reported receiving an overwhelming number of complaints, leading Police Scotland to promptly delay the policy’s introduction “to allow further examination of the evidence base.” In July 2023, the force declared that its efforts would be “reviewed in 12 months to ensure we reach an agreed position on a policy which has the health and safety of our people at its core.” It became known in October 2023 that Police Scotland had disbursed a sum of £60,000 collectively to four officers who pursued legal action after being instructed to shave their facial hair. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, commented: “The beard policy was a policy with no thought, no regard to equality and a draconian approach to common sense and proportionality in policing.” He added, “Let’s hope that as the police service evolves so do modern attitudes to people and family-friendly policies.” A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: “We postponed implementation of the policy in July 2023 after listening to our people and reviewing health and safety evidence. “There are no plans to introduce these changes.”