Women police officers are rebelling against their official-issue trousers, which they claim make them look like Simon Cowell.
The British Association of Women in Policing is lobbying the Government and the Association of Chief Police Officers for better-fitting uniforms.
They complain that the unflattering cut of standard-issue police trousers gives them the appearance of “a sack of potatoes”. They also have the notorious “Simon Cowell” high waistband.
For the past 35 years, policewomen have had to make do with trousers that were designed for men or with a unisex version that suits nobody.
One reason is economic, because it is cheaper for forces to bulk-order trousers that can be worn by either sex. In theory, each force is responsible for the selection of appropriate uniform trousers but in practice the choice is limited because there are only half a dozen suppliers all offering a similar garment.
Liz Owsley, of the BAWP, said: “Women police officers have constantly brought up the fact they do not have a proper uniform. If you are going out there, protecting the public and being in confrontational circumstances, you need to feel professional and confident.
“If you are going out there looking like a sack of spuds, you are not feeling confident and you are not going to do your job properly.
“Female police officers have been welcome in the force since 1974 but have never had trousers that fit properly. They don’t come in women’s sizes and the people in charge of uniform would have no idea what we meant if we said size 12.
Although “unisex” trousers are available they are little different to standard. Ms Owsley said: “The unisex ones are supposed to be women’s trousers but most women have found that they can’t get into them and the men’s are more comfortable. They say they are unisex, but in in practice that means men’s in smaller sizes.”
Alis Pugh, 29, a police constable in Bournemouth, said: “Most of the female officer have gone for the men’s trousers because they are just more comfortable but they are really high-waisted and unflattering.
“I know it’s not a fashion parade, but it would be nice to be comfortable.”
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