Innovative magnetic hijabs may soon be introduced across various police forces as part of a broader initiative to encourage more female Muslim recruits to join the ranks. These specially designed garments aim to ensure both safety and modesty for the officers who wear them.
Crafted with the intention of reducing the risk of strangulation, these ‘Blue Light Hijabs’ feature a two-piece fabric construction held together by a magnetized quick-release clasp. This design allows the lower section to detach if pulled during a confrontation, protecting the officer’s hair from exposure and preserving their modesty.
Leicestershire Police has already equipped every eligible officer with these hijabs, setting a precedent that other forces are now eager to follow by placing their own orders. The initiative is not confined to law enforcement alone; plans are afoot to extend the use of these hijabs to other emergency service personnel, including paramedics and hospital staff, broadening their impact across essential public services.
The system is designed to allow the lower section to detach without exposing the officer’s hair if pulled during a confrontation with a suspect.
The hijabs have already been given to every eligible officer in Leicestershire Police – with other forces now placing orders.
They are also expected to be rolled out to other emergency service workers including paramedics and hospital staff.
The hijabs were developed and designed by Leicestershire Police in collaboration with De Montfort University.
The force said the design team worked with serving Muslim officers before the final product was approved.
Magnetic hijabs could be rolled out across police forces in an effort to attract more female Muslim recruits. Pictured: PC Hafsah Abba-Gana models the new design
Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai, who has spearheaded the campaign, first proposed rolling out a safe and comfortable hijab for female officers 20 years ago.
She said: ‘It’s actually taken years to develop properly. We completed the combat trials at Enderby with female officers wearing it and it held up.
‘The bottom part was able to detach and the officer was able to keep her dignity.’
DS Desai added: ‘It’s amazing to think after three years of research and development, we have got the design of this right, and we’re taking it forward together.
‘It’s a great product, it’s safe and protects Muslim women’s dignity.’
DS Desai’s team spent 16 months designing the new-look hijabs at New Zealand’s Massey University College in Wellington.
She previously said: ‘We saw the New Zealand hijab and liked the look of it so got in contact, built a really good relationship and have been trialling it for a number of weeks.’
‘It’s really important for our Muslim officers who wear the hijab. Operationally, a standard hijab is needed,’ DS Desai added.
‘It looks professional, uses very similar material to our current police uniform and has relevant design and safety features.
The hijabs have already been given to every eligible officer in Leicestershire Police – with other forces now placing orders
‘More importantly it will help attract other Muslim females to become police officers.
‘It will also help to provide role models to the community to show them they too can follow a career in policing.’
Hijabs are religious garments, worn by many Muslim women for reasons to do with modesty and faith.
Earlier this year, a female police officer revealed her hijab was pulled off while she was policing pro-Palestine protests.
PC Zara Basharat, from West Midlands Police, said she was also subjected to racial slurs and abuse.
She told Birmingham Live: ‘Officers in general face abuse all the time, but ethnic minority officers get it more. I’m female, I’m South Asian, I wear a headscarf, and some see me as an easy target.
‘I’ve already been racially abused twice this year by members of the public – it happens too often. My experiences are not the only ones.
‘There are so many officers that face it day in, day out.’
Muslims currently make up just 2.5 per cent of police officers, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
There are, however, four million Muslims living in the UK – which constitutes six per cent of the population.
