Ill-Fitting Police Uniforms Causing Serious Health Issues

13 August 2025

Police uniforms are not fit for purpose and in some cases have caused officers major health issues, according to new research.

The Police Federation of England and Wales teamed up with Lancaster University Law School to conduct the research, which shows that officers are suffering complaints of musculoskeletal issues and crushed testicles to lumps in breasts, due to ill-fitting uniform.

It is a subject that Sussex Police Federation are working with Sussex Police to fix, according to Chair Raffaele Cioffi.

He said: “This is long-awaited research which illustrates what we have been saying for a long time – that the current police uniform is not fit for purpose.

“Officers are stuck wearing ill-fitting uniform and heavy equipment for hours on end, which in many cases can restrict their mobility and hamper their ability to do their job.

“It is worrying that officers have also reported serious health problems brought on by wearing their uniform. We will be working with the force to try to improve the uniforms available to Sussex officers.”

The PFEW survey had 20,838 respondents, with 64% saying their uniform restricts their movement and reduces their effectiveness.

The cargo trousers worn by more than 12,000 officers were identified as being the most challenging item of clothing, with 69% of survey respondents seeing them as problematic.

One respondent commented: “They’re not practical to search house(s) in and carry on stop searches when bending to floor/restraining someone on the floor. They teach us all these good restraints and moves in Public Safety Training, but I can’t do half of them in these trousers.”

And 61% of respondents said the general-purpose body armour was uncomfortable, and caused them ongoing discomfort and soreness.

One respondent commented: “Just saying ‘pain’ does not cover it. Positional issues with the constant weight have reshaped by back and neck over years of wear.”

Survey respondents indicate their uniform has contributed to a number of physical health conditions, with 62% of males and 85% of females reporting at least one physical health condition which, they believe, has been caused by or made worse by wearing their uniform.