Victoria Police Officers win right to wear beanies to beat winter chill
Keeping a cool head may be essential for fighting crime but members of Victoria Police have rallied to be allowed to wear beanies to combat Melbourne’s winter chill.
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Cold cops have turned blue over a beanie ban to beat Melbourne’s bitter winter.
While a cool head might be essential for fighting crime, Victoria Police officers have rallied for the right to wear beanies to stay warm.
Only officers with specific approval or working in cold climates had been allowed to wear beanies but the force has now relented.
It’s also developing a thermal police cap to keep officers warm.
The Herald Sun has been told officers in outer suburbs including Lilydale had been pushing for the right to wear beanies during cold snaps.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Beck Angel confirmed it had approved thermal headwear for all police officers after a successful trial involving PSOs at railway stations statewide.
“Based on employee feedback we will soon be making the beanie available to everyone,’’ she said.
“We recognise that many of our officers and PSOs are working outside in freezing temperatures, so the beanie will provide extra warmth so they can comfortably perform their duties.
“In addition we will soon be trialling a thermal cap to potentially give employees another uniform option during the colder weather.”
The timing of when the beanies would arrive was to be confirmed with new guidelines to be introduced about how and when they could be worn.
The inclusion of the thermal cap wouldn’t be decided until the trial was completed.
The police union had for several years lobbied command to allow all officers to wear beanies during Melbourne’s cold snaps with indication of a breakthrough last year.
“Given that we are now more than halfway through winter, we have raised this issue directly with force command,’’ it told members in its Journal publication.
Officers had also pushed for thermal underwear to be more widely available but Victoria Police said it would still only be issued to officers in cold climates.
It’s not the first time clothing has caused unrest among the ranks.
Two years ago there was complaint problem-prone pants were splitting at the crotch and uncomfortable.
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Some officers gained exemptions from wearing the “tactical trousers” and bought alternatives with the cost reimbursed.
“The general duties uniform is in the early stages of being updated, which will also include changes to the current Victoria Police issued tactical pants,’’ Ms Angel said.
“We are continuing to work with our current supplier to progressively review and improve the Victoria Police-issued tactical pants based on feedback.”
Officers continued to have access to a made-to-measure pants service.