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A new quick-release hijab designed to keep Muslim women safe on the frontline has gone into production, with police forces and emergency services across the UK already placing orders.
Developed by Leicestershire Police in partnership with designers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), the Blue Light Hijab uses a magnetic release system that allows the lower section to detach instantly if pulled during a confrontation. The aim is to prevent the risk of strangulation while ensuring the wearer can maintain modesty and a professional appearance.
The project has attracted interest not only from policing but from paramedics, NHS teams and private-sector organisations looking for safer, more inclusive workwear.
Chief Constable David Sandall described the hijab as a milestone in uniform innovation. After meeting the design team at DMU, he said:
“It is going to make a real difference not only to our officers but there are so many workspaces where this could be applied. Creating a uniform that works for everyone makes us a better, more representative and more inclusive force.”
The design has been years in the making and rooted in extensive user testing. Hijabs cover the head and neck while leaving the face visible, and female Muslim officers were closely involved throughout the development process. Wear trials, materials analysis and safety testing shaped each iteration until the final version was approved.
The idea originally came from Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai two decades ago. Over the years he explored designs used internationally, none of which met UK operational standards for fit, modesty and safety. In 2022, he teamed up with DMU’s Dr Angela Davies and technician Kay Radford to build a new solution from the ground up.
DS Desai, who founded the Leicestershire Police Association of Muslim Police (AMP), said the breakthrough came through detailed collaboration and rigorous combat trials. “We completed the trials with female officers wearing it and it held up. The bottom part was able to detach and the officer was able to keep her dignity,” he said. “For the first time, DMU has set up UK manufacturing for this. It’s safe and it protects Muslim women’s dignity.”
New recruits PC Hafsah Abba-Gana and PC Seher Nas welcomed the addition to personal protective equipment. PC Abba-Gana said: “It is reassuring to know that my faith and my role can work hand in hand, especially as someone who is new to the force.”
“It’s comfortable and safe as well as looking smart and professional. I hope it inspires other Muslim women to consider becoming a police officer knowing they can wear a hijab that protects them while fulfilling their religious requirements.”
Inspector Marina Waka.
With production now underway, forces nationwide have begun placing orders, and international emergency services have expressed early interest in adopting similar designs.
Dr Angela Davies, Associate Professor in Textiles at DMU, said the absence of a consistent, approved hijab for officers created uncertainty around appropriateness and standards. “What we have created is a design that offers more choice to female hijab wearers in the police force,” she said, noting that police apprentices also contributed to the testing process.
The hijab was developed through QUIDs – DMU’s rapid-innovation programme linking researchers with organisations seeking technical support. One of the early testers, Afsana Choudhury, a first-year law student aiming for a policing career, said: “It fits well. It’s very comfortable, and when the magnets pull away you are still left with the main piece.”
More information and order details are available here or by emailing BLH@leics.police.uk.
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