Women police officers claim they are having to wear badly-fitting

uniforms.

Female officers and staff have complained about having to wear men's trousers, shirts that are too small and uniforms with material that gives them burns and rashes.

They told the British Association for Women in Policing that ill-fitting uniforms were affecting their

professionalism.

West Yorkshire Police officers told the association women who were over size 12 were issued with men's clothes, but the Force said it stocked uniforms up to size 26 and could order larger sizes.

It was also claimed female public order officers in West Yorkshire had had to wear one-piece male long johns with a fly and women front desk support staff were given polyester shirts instead of the cotton and polyester ones worn by male staff. One woman said she had suffered a rash from the synthetic fibres.

The association's national co-

ordinator, Liz Owsley, urged all police forces to review the way they procured uniforms.

She said: "Problems with uniforms for women is a recurring theme, especially in the specialist units. There isn't an abundance of women in the forces, so it's easier to get the men's clothing, but in smaller sizes."

Chief Superintendent Sarah Brown, divisional commander for Bradford South Police, said West Yorkshire Police had a very high standard for providing uniforms for women officers.

Chief Supt Brown, who liaises between the force and the British Association for Women in Policing, said there had been a problem with female public order officers having to wear one-piece body armour not specifically designed for women, but that had been resolved.

She added: "We were one of the first forces to issue all officers with body armour and, while we didn't get the fit right at first, it showed we were at the cutting edge.

"We follow national guidelines and listen to local requirements and we are one of the leading forces as far as uniform is concerned."

PC Kath Bainbridge, West Yorkshire Police Federation's

constables representative, said: "I see our force as one of the better ones for providing equipment and uniforms.

"This doesn't reflect very well. Since the Bradford riots we have been the best for supplying body armour."