Police buying their own uniforms as kit is 'poor quality' - review

Police Scotland uniforms were found to be ill-fitting and of poor quality

Police officers in Scotland are resorting to buying their own uniforms as the provided kit is ill-fitting and of poor quality, according to a review.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) found trousers worn by officers were insufficiently stretchy and faded in colour, while fleeces were too thin.

It also found that jackets, which stopped before the waist, were too short and body armour was too bulky for wearing comfortably while in vehicles.

Police Scotland said they will work to ensure officers and staff get the kit needed to "deliver for communities".

HMICS spoke to a variety of officers around Scotland, as well as visiting the Police Scotland stores site in Glasgow.

Officers described having to wear hand-me-down uniforms or purchase replacements online, normalising the use of non-standard kit.

These workarounds mean that often senior and specialist officers receive better-quality uniforms than frontline staff, which the report describes as "unfair".

What did officers say about their uniforms?

• Poor quality trousers

• New gender-neutral caps look unprofessional and fit poorly

• Inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for police staff

• Footwear looks unprofessional

• Jackets lack durability and functionality

• Torches lack durability, brightness, battery life and usability

• Ill-fitting body armour which excludes diverse body types

• Poor quality and thin micro fleeces which are not warm

The report also found that officers in rural locations were not always provided with the same kit as their more centrally-based counterparts.

Some officers were using "legacy uniform items" issued before the formation of Police Scotland or passed down by retiring colleagues.

Brian McInulty of HMICS said it was "unacceptable" that officers were forced to buy their own equipment, leading to a "lack of uniformity".

He said: "Frontline officers and staff are operating in remarkably challenging environments; they are the face of Police Scotland, and the quality of the service they provide affects the overall trust and confidence the public have in the police.

"Ensuring that officers and staff have access to uniform and equipment that is high-quality, comfortable and effective is of critical importance."

Officers said they preferred to wear more formal flat hats and bowler hats than caps

The report suggested that officers now dress more casually and wear "too much jewellery and make-up".

It says there are concerns this "cultural shift" is having an impact of the force's public image.

Officers also reported that their high-visibility vests looked "less professional" and were more suited to security staff than to police officers.

Some commented that the fluorescent nature of the vests made them stand out too much and made them less effective at catching criminals.

Most officers surveyed still prefer to wear the "traditionally male" flat hat and the "traditionally female" bowler hat, as it was seen to portray a more professional image.

The newly issued baseball caps, described as gender-neutral, were said to be poorly fitted and of cheap quality and presented a less professional look to the public.

Finally, the report noted that embroidering Police Scotland and Poileas Alba onto the sleeves of all climate shirts came at a "considerable cost" but added no value to the quality of the garments.

Officers said they felt this money could be spent elsewhere to improve overall uniform quality. The report added that only three UK police forces still get their shirts embroidered.

Police caps were reported as being poor quality

The quality of police-issued trousers has previously come under scrutiny.

In 2019, the then Chief Constable Iain Livingstone admitted the standard of the items was not good enough and approved a switch to "higher quality cargo pants".

Responding to the HMICS report, Ch Supt Stevie Dolan said: "While HMICS highlights important progress in relation to body-worn video and taser, we know the quality, availability and processes to replace uniforms are important for our workforce.

"The chief constable has set out a vision for the future of policing in Scotland, which prioritises support for our frontline.

"We'll take account of this report and listen to officers and staff to ensure they get the uniform and kit they need to deliver for communities."