Police Scotland officers are threatening to sue their force after it introduced new guidelines which could make them shave off beards and moustaches, the Daily Mail has reported. The new clean-shaven policy for frontline officers means hundreds of staff will have to lose their facial hair when it takes effect at the end of the month.

The force said it was necessary so officers and staff could wear protective FFP3 masks that require users to be clean-shaven. Scottish Police Federation (SPF) General Secretary David Kennedy reportedly told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland:

“The Health and Safety Executive guidance is that an RPE policy should only be utilised as a last resort and there have been relevant questions raised as to why this policy is now being proposed. There are serious concerns in relation to the proposed implementation of the policy and its proportionality to risk.”

The rules have been approved by the chief constable and are due to be introduced on 29 May.

Police Scotland's new respiratory protective equipment (RPE) policy will mean that where it can be “reasonably foreseen” that any officer or member of staff will use an FFP3 mask they should be clean-shaven.

There will be exemptions for religious, cultural, disability or medical reasons. In these circumstances, the force is seeking to introduce an alternative type of respiratory protection.

Imposing a dress code policy is perfectly legal when it factors in an employee’s rights. A dress code must not be discriminatory in respect of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 for age, disability, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. There are numerous cases of employees claiming that their employer’s dress code is directly discriminatory.

Police Scotland is the UK's second biggest force behind the Metropolitan police. The Metropolitan Police allows beards and moustaches as long as they are not unkempt.