A new design for magnetic hijabs could soon be introduced across UK police forces in a bid to attract more female Muslim recruits . The “Blue Light Hijabs” are designed for ‘safety and modesty’, which police chiefs say offers a practical solution for Muslim women in law enforcement. The hijabs are made up of two separate pieces of fabric connected by a magnetized quick-release clasp.

This system allows the lower section to detach without exposing the officer’s hair if pulled during a confrontation with a suspect, effectively preventing strangulation while still covering the officer’s hair. Leicestershire Police has already distributed the new hijabs to all eligible officers, with other forces placing orders. The garments are also expected to be adopted by other emergency service workers, including paramedics and hospital staff.

The hijabs were developed through a collaboration between Leicestershire Police and De Montfort University. 

Hijab 20 years in development

Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai, first proposed the idea of the hijab for female officers 20 years ago. “It’s actually taken years to develop properly,” she said. “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 expressed her satisfaction with the final product, saying, “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.”

The design team spent 16 months perfecting the new-look hijabs at New Zealand’s Massey University College in Wellington. DS Desai previously stated, “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.”

‘Professional’ look

“It’s really important for our Muslim officers who wear the hijab. Operationally, a standard hijab is needed,” DS Desai emphasised. “It looks professional, uses very similar material to our current police uniform and has relevant design and safety features.

“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.”

Earlier this year, PC Zara Basharat from West Midlands Police revealed that her hijab was pulled off while policing pro-Palestine protests, and she was subjected to racial slurs and abuse.

Currently, Muslims make up 2.5% of police officers in the UK, according to data from the Office for National Statistics, and constitute 6% of the population with four million Muslims living in the country.