British police force says it may allow female officers to wear burqas as part of uniform

Chief Constable David Thompson said he would look into employing officers who wear the burka as he tries to increase the percentage of black and minority ethnic (BME) officers in the region to 30 per cent.

It is believed that West Midlands Police are the first force to consider allowing the burka.

The Metropolitan Police approved the hijab – which does not cover the face – as uniform a decade ago, while Police Scotland announced last month that the hijab had become an optional part of their force uniform.