Police Scotland officers threatening authorized motion in opposition to plan to ban beards
Police Scotland officers are threatening authorized motion in opposition to plans to ban beards on the frontline from this month.
Sky News understands the brand new clean-shaven coverage will come into motion within the coming weeks, forcing a whole lot of employees to shave off their facial hair.
The drive stated the transfer was to adjust to face-fitted PPE masks.
Police Scotland has 16,615 full-time officers, making it the UK’s second largest forces after London’s Metropolitan Police.
The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, confirmed 4 staff had been pursuing employment tribunal circumstances.
Chair David Hamilton informed Sky News: “The SPF has been inundated with officers’ complaints.
“The Health and Safety Executive steering is {that a} RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) coverage ought to solely be utilised as a final resort and there have been related questions raised as to why this coverage is now being proposed.
“There are serious concerns in relation to the proposed implementation of the policy and its proportionality to risk.
“We are presently supporting a number of members who’ve lodged employment tribunal circumstances regarding the coverage and have sought authorized opinion regarding well being and security, discrimination and human rights.”
The Met’s most-recent facial hair coverage from September 2022 states beards and moustaches are allowed for London officers.
It says “they mustn’t look unkempt. Keep them trimmed and smart.”
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Police Scotland has insisted there will likely be exemptions to the ban together with for spiritual, cultural, incapacity or medical causes.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs stated: “The safety of our officers and staff is a priority and the policy around the use of respiratory equipment is being implemented to protect those on the frontline.
“Significant studying from the COVID pandemic recognized that the FFP3 masks – which is face-fitted and requires customers to be clear shaven – gives probably the most applicable and efficient respiratory safety to officers and employees.
“The respiratory protective equipment policy mandates that, where it can be reasonably foreseen that an officer or member of staff will use an FFP3 mask in the course of their duties, they should be clean-shaven.”