Force tests out anti-grab hijab to attract more Muslim women
HIJABS with anti-grab magnetic technology have been unveiled by a police force in bid to attract more female recruits.
Leicestershire Police are currently trialling the headwear and hope the garment will be rolled out by the Home Office on a national scale for use by other police forces.
The hijabs are made from a specialised sports material and fastened with magnetic buttons to enable a swift release if the wearer is grabbed.
They are designed to sit comfortably with police-issued headwear such as caps and radio earpieces.
The religious covering will not only improve the safety of female officers but also encourage more Muslim women to
‘Wearing the hijab has made me very comfortable and it complements my uniform very well’
join the force, Leicestershire Police have said.
In 2001, the Metropolitan Police became the first force to allow officers to wear hijabs as part of an initiative in London to boost recruitment from black and Asian communities.
Det Con Yassin Desai, joint chair of Leicestershire Police’s Association of Muslim Police, said: “We have been looking for the right design and the right product for a number of years. I have also been talking to other forces in England and Wales and the Home Office about it being a national solution for emergency services and front-line staff.”
Scientists at New Zealand’s Massey University spent 16 months designing the hijab. Student officer Khadeejah Mansur, who joined the force in October, is trialling it. She said: “Wearing the hijab has made me very comfortable and it complements my uniform very well, it is comfortable and far from restricting.”