Project to review Force uniform has been a 'massive learning curve'

26 April 2024

A Derbyshire Police Federation member has spoken about the work that is being done to review and improve the Force’s uniform.

PC Mick Maugham, who is a core trainer, said the review was initially instigated following complaints about the fit and finish on trousers for female officers.

But it has since evolved into ‘a wholesale review’ to improve the standards, and to ensure the uniform is fit for purpose wherever officers are working in the county.

Mick said: “We’re trying to smarten the uniform up and bring standards back a little bit.

“The chiefs have said they want to smarten how we look as we’ve had issues with the quality of uniform and the finish of it.

 

 

“We’re doing a wholesale review of everything to try to raise the standards and improve the public perception of what we should look like.

“Initially it came from a lot of complaints about the fit and finish on female trousers, which was terrible.

“During the Uplift programme, we were having a lot of female students with issues around the trousers. I took it on board to try to alter that.”

Police Uniform

A committee was set up to look at the issue, but it evolved into examining the uniform as a whole, what is worn, how it’s worn and how it’s seen by the public.

Mick said: “The problem in Derbyshire is we’ve got such a massive difference in climate and conditions across the county.

“You’ve got the Peak District, where it’s a totally different climate to working in Derby city centre.

“We have to take into account that the uniform issue is fit for purpose wherever you work in the county.”

With funding at a premium, Mick said that one of the main considerations was ensuring value for money – but that included more than just the cost.

“Money is a massive consideration,” he said. “But I think in the past some things have been bought purely on cost, not on practicality or whether the fit or finish is comfortable.

Learning curve

“We have to be pragmatic in what we provide people, and it needs to be comfortable and practical and do the job.”

Mick admitted he initially underestimated the size of the project.

“It’s been a massive learning curve for me,” he said.

“I thought we could just pick up the phone and order 4,000 pairs of trousers but when you take in timescales, procurement, and everything into account it’s not as quick or as easy as you think just to go out and buy uniform.

“If we’re looking at new coats they have to be compliant with health and safety regulations.

“We’ve got to consider what might be right to wear in Derby in the winter might not be warm enough to wear in Buxton or on top of the Peak District.

“It’s getting the balance right.

Officer feedback

“A lot of people need kit uniform and you’re not going to please everybody.

When you’ve got to kit out 2,500 people there’s always going to be somebody who isn’t happy.”

The project is now 18 months in and Mick said it was hoped it would be completed in the summer.

“We’re getting positive feedback from officers,” he said.

“Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred is leading it with Inspector Matt Haslam.

“We’ve got a core nucleus of about eight or 10 of us. It’s an open forum, so if someone wants to get involved they can.”

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