UK home office issues dress diktat: ‘No hair out of place’ for its staff
Stubble, denims, mini skirts banned for immigration workers
London, Sept. 13: British immigration workers have been told not to appear unshaven or wear clothes that are not considered smart as part of a new dress code unveiled by the home office.
The department has banned listed items in an 18-page document, including jeans, flip-flops, hooded jumpers, short skirts, the BBC reported on Wednesday. It tells staff to “present a professional image and follow this dress code”.
Immigration enforcement staff work at airports and sea ports across the country to prevent illegal migrants entering the country. Dresses above knee length, flip-flops and “revealing” clothing such as low cut tops are “not considered smart”, the diktat says.
It sets out a non-exhaustive list of items that are not considered smart, including denims, Tshirts, frayed or torn clothing, sportswear, including football and rugby shirts, and Lycra — although leggings can be worn with dresses or long smart tops.
Other items to be avoided include shorts, baseball caps or hats, “underwear as outerwear” and hooded or strapless tops.
The home office says the rules are aimed at those in a public-facing role.
The directions are aimed specifically at Immigration
Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation teams and the staff have been told they may face disciplinary action if they fail to comply.
However, if the staff are on undercover operations, they will be allowed to wear some of the prohibited items at the discretion of the chief immigration officer if “it is not suitable to dress formally”.
The staff have been told
that while beards and moustaches are allowed, stubble or an unshaven appearance or stubble are not permitted.
The staff have been warned they “must grow facial hair at a time that minimises the period when you present an unprofessional image”. The directions say hair must be neat and styles “that may detract from a professional image are not acceptable”.