FOI 95276
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 95276
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 5th July 2021. Please find below the response to your request:
I am making this request to assist in answering a query raised at the most recent meeting of the National Coordination Group of the National LGBT+ Police Network. In order to obtain a consistent response, this FOI request is being sent to each force to build a national picture.
- Please can you confirm the headwear options (e.g. custodian, bowler, flat cap, bump cap etc) available to the following officers/staff (please simply list the options, we do not require photos etc):
- Police Community Support Officers
- Constables (on initial training)
- Constables (patrol/neighbourhood/response)
- Constables (roads policing)
- Constables (Formal occasions – parades, court etc)
- Firearms officers
- Taser officers
- Dog handlers
- Search officers
- PSU Level 3 officers
- PSU Level 2 officers (when not using a NATO helmet)
- PSU Level 1 officers (if you have them in your force, when not using a NATO helmet)
- Senior officers (Inspectors and above)
- Any other officers/staff/specialist roles supplied with headwear (other than NATO helmet)
- Are there any gender based limitations on officers requesting any of the following items (i.e. males are routinely allocated one type of headwear, females another)?
- Do you have specific headwear options available for non-binary officers which aren’t available otherwise?
- Are there any roles or occasions whereby officers would not be able to utilise a gender neutral headwear option such as a flat cap/bump cap?
- Does your force utilise any internal publications to provide a visual representation of how officers should be dressed whilst on duty? (such as posters, aide memoirs etc) (A simple Yes/No is sufficient, we do not request copies of these)
- If the answer is yes, is there visual representation of the uniform options available to non-binary officers?
- When was your force’s uniform policy last updated?
- Was your force’s LGBT+ Staff Network consulted on the uniform policy at its last update?
- When is your uniform policy next due to be reviewed?
This information will be very useful in collating a national picture regarding headwear options for our non-binary colleagues.
Reply:-
- Please can you confirm the headwear options (e.g. custodian, bowler, flat cap, bump cap etc) available to the following officers/staff (please simply list the options, we do not require photos etc):
- Police Community Support Officers – Cap and Bowler
- Constables (on initial training) – Custodian and Bowler
- Constables (patrol/neighbourhood/response) – Custodian and Bowler
- Constables (roads policing) – Flat Cap
- Constables (Formal occasions – parades, court etc) – Custodian
- Firearms officers – Flat Cap and Baseball
- Taser officers – As standard issue to a Constable
- Dog handlers – Flat Cap
- Search officers – Bump Cap
- PSU Level 3 officers
- PSU Level 2 officers (when not using a NATO helmet) – Baseball Cap
- PSU Level 1 officers (if you have them in your force, when not using a NATO helmet) – Baseball Cap
- Senior officers (Inspectors and above) – Caps and Bowlers
- Any other officers/staff/specialist roles supplied with headwear (other than NATO helmet) – Cyclists
- Are there any gender based limitations on officers requesting any of the following items (i.e. males are routinely allocated one type of headwear, females another)? – Males Custodian and Females Bowler – Flat Caps are issued to either male or female if requested. When falls within role entitlement
- Do you have specific headwear options available for non-binary officers which aren’t available otherwise? – No
- Are there any roles or occasions whereby officers would not be able to utilise a gender neutral headwear option such as a flat cap/bump cap? – Currently patrol/neighbourhood/response male wear Custodian and female wear Bowler
- Does your force utilise any internal publications to provide a visual representation of how officers should be dressed whilst on duty? (such as posters, aide memoirs etc) (A simple Yes/No is sufficient, we do not request copies of these) – Yes
- If the answer is yes, is there visual representation of the uniform options available to non-binary officers? – No, but this is being discussed
- When was your force’s uniform policy last updated? – March 2020
- Was your force’s LGBT+ Staff Network consulted on the uniform policy at its last update? – Yes
- When is your uniform policy next due to be reviewed? – Ongoing, it is recognised that the policy needs to be developed and re-written
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.