National Police Uniform and Equipment Survey: Results, Reality and What Comes Next

When Police Life first reported on the launch of the National Police Uniform and Equipment Survey in June 2024, it marked a significant moment for policing. For the first time, officers and staff across England and Wales were being asked, on a national scale, whether their uniform and equipment were genuinely fit for purpose.

The results of that survey, published in July 2025, paint a stark picture. For many officers, current police uniform and equipment are not fit for purpose, with consequences that extend far beyond discomfort to affect health, wellbeing, operational effectiveness and workforce sustainability.

Launched in July 2024 by Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace at Lancaster University, in collaboration with the Police Federation of England & Wales (PFEW), the survey was distributed across all forces in England and Wales. More than 27,000 officers and staff responded before it closed in August 2024, making it the largest dataset ever gathered on police uniform and equipment.

Headline findings

The scale of the response revealed problems that were widespread rather than isolated. Over half of respondents (56%) described their overall experience of police uniform as negative, while 64% said their uniform restricted movement or affected their ability to do their job. More than 70% reported pain, discomfort or physical health issues they associated with uniform or equipment.

The survey also revealed significant variation between forces, often described by respondents as a “postcode lottery” of kit quality and experience. While most forces recorded between 40% and 69% negative experiences, some forces reported over 70% dissatisfaction. Only one force recorded a narrowly positive overall experience.

Across the dataset, trousers, body armour and load-bearing equipment emerged as the most problematic items. Cargo trousers worn by more than 12,000 respondents were identified as the most challenging item of clothing, with 69% describing them as problematic. Respondents frequently described restricted movement, difficulty kneeling or restraining individuals, and incompatibility with public safety training techniques.

General-purpose body armour was the second most problematic item, with 61% of respondents reporting ongoing discomfort or soreness. Many described cumulative strain linked to prolonged wear and uneven load distribution, particularly affecting the back, neck and shoulders.

Uniform was also closely linked to perceptions of professionalism. Over a third of respondents said they did not feel smart in their uniform, often citing poor fit, particularly of shirts, which made them feel scruffy, self-conscious or unprofessional.

Health, pain and gendered impacts

Uniform-related health issues were common. Overall, 62% of men and 85% of women reported at least one physical health condition they believed had been caused or worsened by wearing their uniform.

Among men, the most frequently reported issue was musculoskeletal pain affecting joints, bones and muscles, with back pain particularly prominent. Many attributed this to the combined effects of restrictive trousers, poorly designed body armour and heavy equipment.

Women reported a wider range of health impacts. Ill-fitting trousers were frequently described as restrictive in the hips, groin and upper thigh, with some women reporting pressure, chafing and, in extreme cases, injury to the genital area. Body armour also posed significant problems, with over a third of women reporting crushed or compressed breasts, leading to pain and breathing difficulties.

These experiences highlight how uniform continues to be designed around a “default” body shape that does not reflect the diversity of the modern workforce. For many women, this affected not only comfort but dignity, confidence and morale. These findings echo Recommendation 16 of the Angiolini Review, which called for police uniform and equipment to be properly designed, fitted and procured to meet the needs of women officers, recognising the implications of ill-fitting kit for safety, wellbeing and retention.

A notable theme across responses was the normalisation of pain. Many officers described discomfort, pressure or restricted movement as “just part of the job”, even when it affected concentration, confidence or physical health. These issues were not limited to frontline roles; staff and specialist officers also reported problems linked to prolonged sitting, static postures or equipment misaligned with their duties.

Sickness absence, wellbeing and retention

One of the most concerning implications of the survey is how uniform and equipment issues intersect with sickness absence and retention. At a time of sustained pressure on resources and staffing, sickness absence across policing in England and Wales sits at around 5%, representing thousands of lost working days each year and millions of pounds in lost service delivery.

While sickness absence has multiple causes, the survey highlights how cumulative physical strain linked to uniform and equipment may contribute to this picture. Many respondents described chronic or recurring pain, fatigue and musculoskeletal issues they believed were caused or worsened by their kit.

Crucially, this impact is not always visible in sickness data. Officers frequently described using annual leave or rest days to recover physically, returning to stations early to rest, or working through pain rather than recording sickness absence. This practice masks the true scale of the issue, reduces genuine recovery time and affects work–life balance.

The survey also points to wider operational and financial costs, including referrals to occupational health and physiotherapy services, temporary duty restrictions and altered shift patterns. While these measures are essential safeguards, they place additional strain on teams and resources.

There are also clear implications for retention. Some officers reported seeking restricted duties, reducing hours or reconsidering frontline roles altogether, particularly where uniform-related pain compounded existing injuries. At a time when voluntary resignations have increased by 196% in the last ten years, these findings underscore the importance of addressing factors that affect officers’ ability to remain in role.

National recognition and what comes next

Since publication, the findings have moved rapidly into national policing and government discussions. In late 2025, the research team and PFEW representatives met with Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP to discuss the results and recommendations. In correspondence following the meeting, the Minister acknowledged that uniform plays a vital role in officer wellbeing, operational effectiveness and public perception, and that the scale of the issues identified merits close attention.

The National Police Uniform and Equipment Survey has transformed everyday discomfort into nationally recognised evidence. Problems with uniform can no longer be dismissed as trivial; they are now clearly linked to officer safety, health and wellbeing, and operational effectiveness.

As forces and national leaders consider how to improve retention and reduce sickness absence, increasing attention is being paid to clothing and equipment within broader workforce reform. Efforts to streamline procurement and reduce inconsistencies in kit quality position uniform as a matter of strategic importance. Under the recently published White Paper on policing reform, clothing and personal equipment are likely to form part of more coordinated national conversations, rather than remaining fragmented or locally contingent concerns.

For the thousands of officers who took part in the survey, the hope is that this evidence finally leads to tangible change.