FOI 512-2025 / May 2025 / Officer uniform
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 512-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 8th May 2025 as follows:
- Request a copy of the current Dress and Appearance Standards for Police Officers in your force.
- If there is a Ceremonial Unit (or similar) within your force.
- If training in foot drill forms part of current initial Police Officer and Special Constable training.
- A list of uniform and equipment issued to new Police Officers and Special Constables.
- The cost of each item of uniform and equipment issued to new Police Officers and Special Constables for financial year 2024/2025.
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Q1 response: Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Warwickshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
The is published on the Warwickshire Police website and is therefore exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 21 – ‘Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means’ and can be viewed via the following link:
and typing ‘Appearance and Dress Policy’ in the search box.
However, please note that the policy is currently under review.
Q2 response: No, Warwickshire Police do not have a Ceremonial Unit or similar.
Q3 response: No, there is no foot drill training for Police officers or Special Constables.
Q4 response: A list of standard issue uniform/kit for Police Officers and Special Constables is set out below:
|
Female |
Male |
QTY |
|
EPPULATTES |
EPPULATTES |
1 |
|
SLIDERS |
SLIDERS |
3 |
|
WARWICKSHIRE HAT P'FINDER |
WARWICKSHIRE CUSTODIAN HELMET |
1 |
|
- |
FLAT CAP |
1 |
|
PATROL TROUSER BLACK |
PATROL TROUSER BLACK |
2 |
|
GLOVE BLACK LINED |
GLOVE BLACK LINED |
1 |
|
POLICE BLK WOOLLY HAT |
POLICE BLK WOOLLY HAT |
1 |
|
LEATHER BLK BELT |
LEATHER BLK BELT |
1 |
|
PAVA SPRAY HOLDER BELT |
PAVA SPRAY HOLDER BELT |
1 |
|
CRAVAT |
POLICE BLK TIE WITH CLIP |
1 |
|
WHITE SHIRT S/S |
WHITE SHIRT S/S |
1 |
|
WINTER HI VIS |
WINTER HI VIS |
1 |
|
POLICE 3/4 LEN H/V COAT |
POLICE 3/4 LEN H/V COAT |
1 |
|
SOFTSHELL JACKET |
SOFTSHELL JACKET |
1 |
|
SUMMER HI VIS |
SUMMER HI VIS |
1 |
|
FIRST AID POUCH WITH CONTENTS |
FIRST AID POUCH WITH CONTENTS |
1 |
|
L/S BLACK POLICE SHIRT |
L/S BLACK POLICE SHIRT |
2 |
|
S/S BLACK POLICE SHIRT |
S/S BLACK POLICE SHIRT |
4 |
|
GP ARMOUR INC POUCH |
GP ARMOUR INC POUCH |
1 |
|
HANDCUFFS |
HANDCUFFS |
1 |
|
POUCH |
POUCH |
1 |
|
TORCH |
TORCH |
1 |
|
POLICE VELCRO BADGES |
POLICE VELCRO BADGES |
3 |
|
EQUIPMENT BELT |
EQUIPMENT BELT |
1 |
|
WARRANT CARD HOLDER |
WARRANT CARD HOLDER |
1 |
|
AUTOLOCK BATON HOLDER |
AUTOLOCK BATON HOLDER |
1 |
|
AUTOLOCK BATON |
AUTOLOCK BATON |
1 |
|
MICROFLEECE |
MICROFLEECE |
1 |
|
KIT BAG |
KIT BAG |
1 |
|
OVERTROUSER |
OVERTROUSER |
1 |
Q5 response: Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Warwickshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to you the applicant with a notice which
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
Please be advised that the requested information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of the following exemption:
Section 43(2) Commercial Interests
Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it.)
Section 43(2) is a prejudice based qualified exemption and there is a requirement to articulate the harm as well as carrying out a public interest test.
Harm
Disclosure of unit pricing is likely to cause financial loss to both the supplier and the purchasing authority. In the event that commercially sensitive information of a supplier in a market is disclosed, then the competitive position of that supplier would be eroded. Companies could also refuse to do business or submit tenders with an authority that readily release their sensitive commercial information into the public domain, thereby reducing competition and, as a result, driving up prices that the force pays for goods or services.
Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Disclosure
The release of the information would demonstrate openness and accountability for monies spent and would contribute to the accuracy and quality of public debate.
Factors Against Disclosure
There is a public interest in protecting the commercial interests of individual companies and ensuring they are able to compete fairly.
Release of such information would make the market less competitive and erode the benefit this brings to the spending of public money.
Such disclosure may dissuade companies from doing business with or from giving favourable rates to the police service. This would impact upon Warwickshire Police’s ability to get the best value for money for goods or services.
Balance Test
When undertaking a public interest test, factors favouring disclosure need to be balanced against factors against. The benefits of transparency and accountability are highly valued; however this must be balanced against the harm that would be caused if information were disclosed. As mentioned above, there is a public interest in protecting the commercial interests of individual companies as this ensures that the market remains fair and competitive and that authorities are able to get the best value for money in respect of the goods and services procured.
Therefore, on balance, it is considered that the public interest in providing the information is outweighed by the potential impact release would have and this represents a refusal notice for information in relation to this element of your request.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB