West Midlands chiefs have instructed their staff to wear appropriate underwear, “underwear should be of an appropriate colour to be inconspicuous underneath uniform.” Those in the firing line are female officers whose thongs may become exposed while on the beat and their boxer short-wearing male counterparts.

One police constable joked: “Any chance they could run a piece on tying shoelaces or how to use toilet paper?”

WMP said the guidelines were part of a “revised uniform, equipment and appearance policy” to ensure officers “present a professional, corporate appearance to the public.”
It includes other sartorial advice, such as the suggestion that baseball caps should only be worn by officers in certain units.

A police spokesman said: “There’s no new force policy on underwear, but all officers and staff coming into contact with the public are asked to adopt a commonsense approach when choosing what underwear is worn so they remain smart.”

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