Police Scotland has scrapped plans that may have seen many frontline officers and workers having to shave off facial hair.
The clean-shaven coverage was because of be launched in Could final yr however precipitated controversy and its implementation was postponed for 12 months.
The drive has now advised BBC Scotland Information there are “no plans” to introduce the adjustments.
Police Scotland paid out £60,000 in complete to 4 officers who took authorized motion after being advised to shave.
The Scottish Police Federation – which represents rank and file officers – mentioned the coverage had “no thought, no regard to equality and a draconian strategy to widespread sense.”
In Could 2023, BBC Scotland Information noticed a message posted on Police Scotland’s inner web site from the then Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs outlining plans to introduce a clean-shaven coverage.
The message mentioned that whereas the chance from coronavirus had lowered, wider dangers remained to officers – together with fires – that required private protecting gear to be worn.
This included FFP3 facemasks which require customers to be clear shaven.
There would have been exemptions for folks on grounds resembling faith and incapacity.
However the Scottish Police Federation mentioned it was inundated with complaints and Police Scotland quickly postponed its implementation “to permit additional examination of the proof base.”
In July 2023 the drive mentioned its work could be “reviewed in 12 months to make sure we attain an agreed place on a coverage which has the well being and security of our folks at its core.”
In October 2023 it emerged Police Scotland had paid out a complete of £60,000 to 4 officers who had taken authorized motion after being advised to shave their facial hair.
Scottish Police Federation basic secretary, David Kennedy, mentioned: “The beard coverage was a coverage with no thought, no regard to equality and a draconian strategy to widespread sense and proportionality in policing.
“Let’s hope that because the police service evolves so do trendy attitudes to folks and family-friendly insurance policies.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson mentioned: “We postponed implementation of the coverage in July 2023 after listening to our folks and reviewing well being and security proof.
“There aren’t any plans to introduce these adjustments.”