Officer facial hair and face masks 426/23

FOI Reference: 426/2023

 

Request:

 

Good afternoon, I am researching the wearing of facial hair within Policing.

• Are front line, operational officers, permitted to wear a beard?
• Are front line, operational officers, permitted to wear facial hair of any length?
• Does your force have any policy regulating the wearing of facial hair?
• Are front line, operational officers, required to wear Respiratory Protective Equipment, specifically FFP3 masks in certain circumstances?
• If yes, what are those circumstances?
• Do you require front line, operational officers, to be clean shaven when wearing FFP3 masks?
• Do you require front line, operational officers to wear FFP3 masks in any of the following scenarios:
  1. Dealing with persons known to be positive for COVID-19
  2. Exposure to blood borne pathogens (via cuts and abrasions in skin); this includes dealing with victims of fatal RTCs
  3. Dealing with or examining vehicles where the air bag has been deployed or other man-made fibres such as carbon fibre or similar has been damaged
  4. Attendance at ongoing vehicle fires or attendance at / examination of any vehicle that has previously been fire damaged / burnt out
  5. Attendance at fires in general
  6. Testing of drugs
• Did you ever require officers to wear FFP3 masks, for instance during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• If yes, were officers required to be clean shaven when wearing said masks?

 

 

Response 1:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

Yes

 

Response 2:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

In principle yes, but there is guidance on keeping it neat

 

 

Response 3:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

Facial hair is covered in our Uniform policy. Please see the below extract from our Uniform policy.

 

“Facial Hair – Facial hair should be neat and tidy. Unnatural colour dyes must not be used. CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) trained personnel must not grow or wear a beard or extended moustache as this can prevent an effective seal being made when wearing a respirator.”

 

Response 4:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

We do not routinely issue FFP3 facemasks in general circumstances. However, there can be occasions when they do have to wear FFP3 masks in line with a risk assessment.

 

Response 5:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

Circumstances may include a DVI deployment and as part of a CBRN response.

 

Response 6:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

A FFP3 facemask is completely ineffective unless there is a good seal between the mask and the skin. Therefore, officers need to be clean shaven when wearing a FFP3 mask.

 

Response 7:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

1. This is no longer part of NPCC COVID guidance.
2. Not routinely - however, it may happen in the future as part of a risk assessment.
3. Not routinely - however, it may happen in the future as part of a risk assessment.
4. Not routinely - however, it may happen in the future as part of a risk assessment.
5. Not routinely - however, it may happen in the future as part of a risk assessment.
6. We do not do drug testing in force due to risks attributed to unknown substances.

 

Response 8:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

Yes. At the infancy of COVID-19 we had a stock of FFP3 masks so we did equip officers with them until we could obtain a steady supply of FFP1 masks.

 

Response 9:

 

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

 

Yes. Officers were told to clean shave and they were all face-fit tested prior to the issue of a FFP3 mask.

                                                                                                           

 

It should be noted that owing to the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such matters the information provided may or may not be accurate. It should be noted that for these reasons this Force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.  

 

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 05/06/23)