Scotland police to woo women Muslim recruits

Scotland’s police are planning to introduce hijab as an optional uniform in an attempt to attract more women Muslim recruits to the force, which currently has less black and Asian representation.

Scotland Yard, Britain’s largest police force, already has the option in place leading to Police Scotland studying various designs that would be suitable and cover the head and neck but not the face.

“Police Scotland are committed to working with communities to encourage under-represented groups to consider policing as a career. Part of this involves removing unnecessary barriers, which include considerations about the officers’ uniform,”  Peter Blair, head of resource management at Police Scotland is reported to have said. “As a result, work has been undertaken to source a uniform hijab. Such a hijab is worn by many officers in police forces in England and across the world and Police Scotland is keen to replicate this good practice,” he said. A suitable headscarf has been tested and will now be presented for consideration.