Legal and Professional Standards Department - Uniform and appearance policy (P06)

1. Summary of changes

1.1 The following changes have been made to this policy in February 2019:

• SOPs P06a and P06b archived as the force has now adopted the

  College of Policing appearance standard

1.2 This policy has been reviewed in February 2023 - paragraph 4.1.1 updated.

2. What this policy is about

2.1. The purpose of this policy is to clarify the expectations of Kent Police in relation to the standards of dress and appearance of all Kent Police employees.

2.2. The overriding principle must be to ensure that the standard of appearance maintained by Kent Police staff is calculated to project and enhance a professional image which reflects positively on the service.

2.3. The term 'staff' is fully inclusive of all police officers and police staff employees, uniform and non-uniform.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of policy

3.1. Kent Police has adopted the College of Policing national appearance standard which should be followed at all times.

3.2. Additional information can be found in the interactive uniform guide.

4. Implications of the policy

4.1. Finance/staffing/training/other

4.1.1. Uniform, compliant with health and safety and role requirement, to be supplied by uniform stores, facilities services department - currently outsourced to Tailored Image.

4.1.2. Issue of uniform for police and uniformed police staff employees will be made in accordance with the scales of entitlement. Details of entitlement are available on the support services page on InSite.

4.2. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

4.2.1. An EIA has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy and linked SOP’s to have a low potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.