Female police officers in London could be told to wear hairnets again, as an incoming chief says a smart uniform plays a key part in public confidence in the force.
Dame Lynne Owens, who takes over as deputy commissioner next month, criticised ‘inconsistent hairstyles worn on duty’ and suggested that standards of dress for all serving officers in the Met would be examined.
She posted a picture of a pair of smart leather shoes and hair nets on Twitter, writing: ‘Time to get working on those shoes.’
‘Standards matter, in my view, as they link directly to how the public see us.’
She preemptively replied to her own tweet emphasising there other priorities: ‘I know there are other basics to get right too (responding well, investigating thoroughly, supporting victims … the list is long)’
The Met’s has been suffering from a series of crises which have damaged their reputation in the eyes of the public.
Dame Lynne Owens, who takes over as deputy commissioner for the Met, suggested that hairnets could be brought back for female police
She tweeted a picture of a pair of smart leather shoes and hair nets on Twitter, writing: ‘Time to get working on those shoes’
The force is currently in special measures due ‘systemic’ failings, officers were found to have shared ‘grossly offensive’ messages in a WhatsApp group with Wayne Couzens and recently a mother recorded one officer telling her ‘I’d like to search you’.
When Dame Lynne posted the photo, a user questioned her priorities, to which she replied: ‘I honestly believe the two are connected. Of course the primary measure is public service.’
To another user she said: ‘I understand this is not a stand alone thing. We will need to look at all the things that are making hard working officers lives difficult. I believe we can do both at the same time’
Dame Lynne also wrote that the ‘kindest word’ to describe how women officers currently wear their hair would ‘inconsistency’.
‘None of us should walk on by,’ she wrote. ‘Others can make it neat without a net-not me!’