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The UK’s Policing Minister has described discussions on the first-ever national assessment of police uniform and equipment as “really valuable”, following a meeting at the Home Office to review findings from a major new survey led by Lancaster University.
Minister of State for Policing and Crime Sarah Jones MP met with researchers Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace from Lancaster University, alongside Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) national board members Zac Mader and Belinda Goodwin, and Superintendent Helen Brear of West Yorkshire Police.
The meeting focused on the findings and recommendations of the National Uniform and Equipment Survey, which provides the first national picture of officers’ and staff experiences of police uniform and kit across England and Wales. Discussions also centred on how the recommendations could help address what researchers have described as a “postcode lottery” in uniform standards between forces.
Speaking after the meeting, Jones said the discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring police officers and staff are properly equipped.
“This was a really valuable discussion of the findings of the National Uniform and Equipment Survey,” she said. “Ensuring officers and staff have suitable, fit-for-purpose uniforms and equipment is of the utmost importance — so they can do their jobs effectively and keep our communities safe.”
Attendees said the meeting had been productive and that the survey’s recommendations closely aligned with the Government’s wider policing reform agenda.
The survey results revealed widespread dissatisfaction with police uniform and equipment among officers and staff in England and Wales. Respondents described uniforms as unfit for purpose, restrictive and, in some cases, linked to serious health concerns, including musculoskeletal problems and other physical injuries.
The study concluded that, given the amount of time officers and staff spend in uniform, improving functionality could enhance officer safety, support everyday tasks such as walking, running and climbing, and ultimately improve operational effectiveness across policing.
Look out for an upcoming episiode of the For Every Response podcast on 19 January—recorded live at The Emergency Services Show 2025—in which Lancaster University’s Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace explore how ill-fitting uniforms affect officers’ health, safety, and operational effectiveness, and discuss the urgent need for inclusive, functional uniform reform.
