Police chiefs have been slammed by officers after issuing a warning against wearing tarty or revealing UNDERWEAR, it emerged today.
West Midlands Police has issued a dictat telling its officers their underwear must be an ”appropriate colour” and ”inconspicous” beneath their uniform.
The strict guidance was issued as part of a revised uniform policy to present a ”professional and corporate appearance” to the public.
But officers in the force have accused their superiors of ”nannying” and slammed the warning as ”outrageous”.
One experienced police constable, who did not want to be named, told Police Review magazine: ”It is ridiculous. They are basically telling us what underwear to wear to work.
”A couple of sergeants have jokingly been saying there would be spot checks. It is outrageous.”
Another police constable said: ”Any chance they could run a piece on tying shoelaces or how to use toilet paper?”
Guidelines also warn officers to wear their protective stab vests at all times when patrolling the beat which includes Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull and Wolverhampton.
One sergeant from the force told Police Review: ”We are not a scouting organisation made up of young children who need nannying.
”As we are all adults, personal pride should drive folks to maintain that professional appearance by shaving before going on duty, having clean boots and tidy uniform.”
Another police constable said: ”Rather than spending time on sending pointless messages out concerning the way we look when doing the job, the force should concentrate more on letting us do the job of a police officer and trying catch criminals.”
The warning appeared on the police ‘message of the day’ section on the force intranet last week.
The message was: ”Underwear should be of an appropriate colour to be inconspicuous underneath uniform.”
Other dictats include warnings that baseball caps should only be worn by officers working in certain units such as dogs and firearms.
All officers on operational patrol duties must also wear their stab vests at all times.
The force has warned officers and staff who are working together should be similarly dressed.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: ”There is no new force policy on underwear, but all officers and staff who come into contact with the public are asked to adopt a common sense approach when choosing what underwear is worn when on duty, so they remain smart.”
Assistant chief constable Sharon Rowe said: ”All supervisors, at whatever level they are in the organisation, have a clear mandate to challenge inappropriate dress.
”The adoption of standard, corporate, professional uniform and equipment is crucial to how we are viewed by members of the public.”
Absolute disgrace. Nothing wrong with tarty knickers.