In a refreshing announcement, Police Scotland said the hijab will officially become a part of its uniform as they expect to make a more diverse force. Muslim police officers in Scotland were allowed to wear the hijab in the past, but needed their senior staff officers' permission to do so. The unit said they hoped to "encourage women from Muslim communities, who may previously not have seen policing as a career option, to reconsider.
In a official statement, chief constable Phil Gormley said, "I am delighted to make this announcement and welcome the support from both the Muslim community, and the wider community, as well as police officers and staff. Like many other employers, especially in the public sector, we are working towards ensuring our service is representative of the communities we serve. I hope that this addition to our uniform options will contribute to making our staff mix more diverse and adds to the life skills, experiences and personal qualities that our officers and staff bring to policing the communities of Scotland."
Welcoming the announcement, chair of the Scottish Police Muslim Association, Fahad Bashir said, "This is a positive step in the right direction, and I am delighted that Police Scotland is taking productive steps in order to ensure that our organisation is seen to be inclusive and represents the diverse communities that we serve across Scotland. No doubt this will encourage more women from Muslim and minority ethnic backgrounds to join Police Scotland."
