WELLBEING
uncomfortable. Few are ever reimbursed. One summed it up bluntly: “Whilst cost needs to be considered, if you buy cheap, you buy twice.” The irony is hard to miss. As PFEW National Board members Belinda Goodwin and Zac Mader note:
“Our officers put their lives on the line day in and day out, yet seven in ten say their uniform restricts movement while more than half find their body armour uncomfortable. How can it be right that forces invest in costly technology such as drones but fail to provide basic uniform and body armour fit for purpose?” The message from the research team is clear. Dr De Camargo reflected: “We are shocked by the results but, unfortunately, not surprised. It is important to highlight these issues on such a large scale. We hope this evidence can lead to impactful changes that improve the lives of uniform wearers every day.” NPCC’s Melissa Russhard, Uniform Portfolio
Lead, added: “This research gives us a national understanding of officers’ experiences. It allows us to move towards eliminating the postcode lottery and introducing the highest standards for everyone.”
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM THE SURVEY REPORT SETS OUT FIVE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Establish the highest minimum national standards for police uniform.
• Create a Strategic Uniform Board for accountability.
• Reform procurement and design processes to prioritise quality, safety,
• Improve logistics around supply and access.
and functionality.
• Commit to continuous review and feedback so uniforms evolve with
operational needs.
Uniform may seem a technical issue, but it cuts to the core of policing’s ability to serve the public. A smart, functional, and safe uniform reinforces visibility, professionalism, and pride. A uniform that causes pain, restricts movement, or damages health does exactly the opposite. The Federation’s stance is clear: uniform must be fit for purpose, fit for form, and fit for the future.
As Belinda Goodwin and Zac Mader put it in their foreword: “We want police uniform that is of the highest standard, ethically and environmentally sourced, durable, safe, and professional. Our members deserve not hing less.”
The evidence is now undeniable. The question is whether decision-makers will finally act.
32 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025
The PFEW recently hosted a webinar on the National Uniform and Equipment Survey webinar which turned out to be a landmark event bringing together Federation leaders, researchers and members to discuss one of the most practical but persistent issues in policing: uniform. Chaired by National Board members including Belinda Goodwin and Zac Mader, with expert inputs from Dr Sahrish Khan of PFEW’s research team, the session gave attendees a behind- the-scenes look at how the research was carried out and what it means for officers on the ground. This was one of the Federation’s first major collaborations with academia, signalling a new approach to evidence-led campaigning. The event emphasised the
collaborative nature of the project, repeatedly acknowledging the hard work of officers, staff and
researchers who contributed to the study. Presenters outlined how the findings will be shared with every force, while stressing the importance of officer voices in shaping future reform. The webinar was more than a
data presentation: it created space for live questions from serving officers, who raised real-world concerns about accessing kit, the impact of uniform on wellbeing, and inconsistencies between forces. In doing so, it highlighted the frustrations of frontline policing while offering practical pathways for change.
With police reform and financial
constraints forming the wider backdrop, the webinar framed uniform not as a side issue but as central to performance, safety and morale. As one presenter put it: “Uniform matters — it affects not only how we look, but how we feel and how we do the job.”
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