Police Scotland officers told to shave off beards as force 'inundated' with complaints over new policy

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Police Scotland officers could be forced to shave off their beards due to a new policy expected to be implemented in a matter of weeks.

Officers will be required to be clean-shaven in order to wear protective masks, although some exceptions will be made.The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) said it has now been "inundated with complaints" over the new policy.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme on Friday, SPF general secretary David Kennedy said the plan has caused "considerable angst" among officers.Police Scotland said the policy is being brought in to "protect those on the frontline", as wearing the FFP3 mask properly requires the face to be clean-shaven.

But Mr Kennedy says he has "never seen so many complaints come in" during his time as a full-time official.Mr Kennedy said the SPF, which represents rank-and-file officers, does not believe police would have to wear the masks often, which is the "root of the problem" and is "causing the angst for several police officers".He added: "The health and safety executive guidance is that a policy like this should only be utilised as a last resort and there have been relevant questions raised by officers as to why this policy is now being proposed."Police Scotland said there will be exemptions to the clean-shaven rule on religious or medical grounds, but Mr Kennedy claimed no equality or human rights assessment has been carried out on the policy.