Branch working with the Force to improve officer uniform

7 August 2025

Branch chair Delme Rees says Dyfed Powys Police Federation is working with the Force to improve officer uniform.

Delme said the Force was aware of issues with the uniform, particularly dissatisfaction regarding trousers.

An extraordinary meeting of the Dyfed Powys Police Uniform and Equipment Group, which will include the Federation branch, is due to be held on Wednesday 20 August.

At the meeting, will be samples of new trousers which are being proposed for officers following the findings of a national trial of police trousers that finished in June.

Trousers

Delme said: “The Force is aware of the issues and dissatisfaction regarding trousers and it’s something we’re working with it on.

“We have a lot of members who need kit and uniform, and we need to ensure it is fit for purpose and fit for all.

“To that end, we’re working with the Force and the Uniform and Equipment Group to ensure that the trousers are as comfortable and as practical as possible to do the job.”

It comes as the Police Federation of England and Wales published the results of a national survey of members on the issue of uniform.

 

 

The survey heard from 20,8383 respondents, with 86% police officers and 14% police staff, 34% female and 66% male.

The results of the National Uniform and Equipment Survey revealed Dyfed Powys Police was not alone in its issues with trousers.

Almost seven out of 10 (69%) of respondents reported negative experiences with cargo trousers. This was the most challenging item of clothing, PFEW said.

Delme said Dyfed Powys Police was also looking at officer body armour.

Body armour

He said: “The Force is replacing the current body armour as soon as its life span reaches its natural expiry date.

“Officers in-Force have trialled the new armour.

“They have fed back that it is lighter and hopefully more comfortable for officers once it gets worn in, which sounds really positive.”

Again, the National Uniform and Equipment Survey revealed that Dyfed Powys Police was not alone in experiencing problems with body armour.

The report found that 61% of officers in England and Wales say their body armour ‘worsened their uniform experience’. This was the second most problematic item of clothing.

Uniform

Indeed, the majority of respondents (56%) reported their overall experience of wearing the police uniform as negative. In Dyfed Powys Police, the figure was slightly above the national average at 59%.

Two thirds (65%) of respondents from Dyfed Powys Police reported at least one health issue believed to be caused or made worse by their uniform. This was also above the national figure of 57%.

PFEW said conditions identified by the research team included andropause, bloating, crushed breasts, crushed testicles, cysts, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, Coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), incontinence, menstrual symptoms, meralgia parasthetica, musculoskeletal pain, perimenopause, rubbing of scars, skin conditions, thrush, and urinary tract infections.

PFEW’s headline recommendations to improve uniform and equipment included setting the highest minimum national standards. It also recommends establishing a single point of accountability in the form of a Strategic Uniform Board, and to have continuous review and feedback.

PFEW National Board members Belinda Goodwin and Zac Mader, who have worked closely with the researchers, said: “The national survey findings are disquieting to the say the least.

Officer safety

“Our officers put their lives on the line day in and day out to provide the highest standards of service which the public rightly expects from them.

“Yet, seven in 10 officers find their uniform restricts their movement thereby reducing their effectiveness, while more than five in 10 officers find their current body armour uncomfortable.

“These factors significantly heighten risk to officer safety and impact their ability to keep their communities safe.

“How can it be right that on one hand our employers (Chief Constables) and the Government are adopting modern technology and costly artificial intelligence assisted equipment such as drones, and on the other hand they refuse to invest in basic day-to-day equipment such as new age uniform and body armour for our officers and staff?

“We ardently appeal to our employers and the Government to wake up and take cognisance of the independent evidence obtained by this pioneering study to immediately devote resources to provide our officers with uniform that is fit for purpose and fit for all.”

READ MORE: Dyfed Powys officers remembered at COPS service.