Police Scotland scraps plans to ban beards for frontline officers

Police Scotland has scrapped plans to introduce a clean-shaven policy for its frontline officers.

The force was due to introduce a rule in May 2023 requiring officers to shave their beards off but became inundated with internal complaints.

The policy was delayed until July last year, but it has now been confirmed that there are no plans to introduce the changes.

Police Scotland initially said the proposals would give workers the “best protection” while wearing protective FFP3 masks on duty.

Four officers took legal action over the policy last year.

The Scottish Police Federation represented the officers, who received around £60,000 between them.

Compensation was awarded for lost overtime and stress after certain line managers implemented the no-beard policy before its proposed introduction.

As part of the action, they were banned from working any overtime and assigned to desk duties.

Police said there would have been exemptions to the clean-shaven rule on religious or medical grounds.

Scottish Police Federation general secretary, David Kennedy, said: “The beard policy was a policy with no thought, no regard to equality and a draconian approach to common sense and proportionality in policing.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “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.”