New safety-focused headwear aims to protect officers’ dignity, prevent strangulation and encourage greater Muslim participation in policing

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Magnetic hijabs may soon be introduced across police forces in the United Kingdom as part of efforts to attract more Muslim women into policing and emergency services. The specially designed garments, known as Blue Light Hijabs, are intended to improve officer safety while respecting religious modesty.

The hijabs are made from two pieces of fabric joined together with a magnetised quick release clasp. The design allows the lower section to detach if it is pulled during a confrontation, reducing the risk of strangulation while ensuring that the officer’s hair remains covered.

The new hijabs have already been issued to all eligible officers in Leicestershire Police, with several other police forces now placing orders. Plans are also underway to extend their use to other emergency service workers, including paramedics and hospital staff.

Leicestershire Police developed the hijabs in collaboration with De Montfort University, working closely with serving Muslim female officers throughout the design process. The force said the feedback of officers was central to refining the final product before approval.

Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai, who led the project, said the idea was first proposed nearly 20 years ago. She explained that the design underwent extensive testing, including combat trials at Enderby, where female officers wore the hijabs in operational scenarios.

According to DS Desai, the trials confirmed that the lower section of the hijab detached safely when pulled, allowing officers to retain their dignity during physical confrontations. She described the final design as a safe, professional and practical solution for frontline policing.

Her team spent about 16 months further developing the hijabs at Massey University College in Wellington, New Zealand, after drawing inspiration from a similar design already in use there. She said strong collaboration with international partners helped improve the product.

DS Desai noted that the hijabs are made from materials similar to standard police uniforms and include key safety and design features required for operational duties. She said the initiative would help Muslim officers feel more confident and supported in their roles.

She added that beyond safety, the hijabs could help attract more Muslim women into policing by showing that faith and a career in law enforcement are compatible. The presence of Muslim female officers, she said, could also serve as positive role models within communities.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns about abuse faced by minority officers. Earlier this year, a female officer from West Midlands Police, PC Zara Basharat, said her hijab was pulled off while policing pro Palestine protests and that she was subjected to racial abuse.

PC Basharat said female and ethnic minority officers often face more abuse from the public, describing herself as an easy target because she is South Asian and wears a headscarf. She said such incidents are common and affect many officers daily.

According to official figures from the Office for National Statistics, Muslims currently make up about 2.5 percent of police officers in the UK, despite Muslims accounting for roughly six percent of the national population, or about four million people.

Police leaders believe the introduction of safer and more inclusive uniform options such as the magnetic hijab could help address this gap and support broader efforts to improve diversity, inclusion and trust within policing.

Source: Daily Mail Newd