Scots cops feared they could be left looking like Tartan Army fans after plans for new “Glengarry-style” hats emerged.
Police Scotland chiefs have been in talks over whether to roll out the new bonnets - similar in appearance to those worn in traditional Highland dress and sported by supporters of the national football squad.
The controversial design is understood to have featured in a discussion paper by police training boss Superintendent Rob Hay in recent days as the force continues its hunt for a “ non gender-specific ” alternative hat for officers.
But police sources branded the head gear “ridiculous” when pictures of the proposed new look emerged.
One senior source told the Record: “The hats look ridiculous. It’s almost as if they’re going to watch a Scotland game instead of policing the country.
“They also look very military and it’s not going down well with the rank and file. It’s the police service not a fashion house.
“There’s better things to spend money on such as making sure the fleet is up to date or giving officers more resources to be able to do their jobs properly.
“Suggestion or not, the fact they had a sample made is giving officers cause for concern.
“Nobody wants to look like they’re in the army and I’m not sure the public will respond well either.”
In 2019, Police Scotland confirmed officers could start wearing “gender-neutral” baseball-style caps as part of their uniform.
Officers were given the option to choose reinforced “bump caps” as a non-gendered option to traditional police headwear.
Caps had only previously been worn by specialist officers, such as the firearms unit, doghandlers and search teams.
But Police Scotland said permission for all officers to wear the hats had been granted as an interim measure while the force considered a unisex hat design.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said at the time: “Where an officer would prefer not to wear a gender specific hat, it is right they have that option.”
Images of the proposed “Glengarry” hats sparked a mixed reaction after emerging in online discussion groups in recent days.
One post joked: “This is certainly one way to get more people to move out of uniform and into CID/safeguarding roles.”
Another said: “Does it come with a detachable ginger wig?”
But the response was not entirely negative.
One post said: “I don’t think it looks awful. I like they’ve gone for something traditionally Scottish.
“It would probably look better if the rest of the uniform didn’t look like pure p*sh.”
Another added: “Still looks more professional then the gender neutral baseball caps some forces still issue.”
Meanwhile, West of Scotland Tartan Army spokesman Hamish Husband said fans would love the force’s proposed new look, which could have seen police and fans sporting similar styles on match days.
He said: “The Tartan Army are delighted as we have always seen ourselves as the ideal role models for law and order.
“We’ve always felt we self policed ourselves home and abroad and we’re delighted the police are now looking to aspire to our style.”
Police yesterday confirmed that the Glengarry hat had been ruled out.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: “We are not introducing Glengarry-style hats.
“Since 2019, officers who prefer not to wear gender specific headwear have been permitted to wear a baseball style police hat which has been widely used by specialist officers for a number of years and adopted by other UK services as an option.
“We continue to consider a single design for officers, however the Glengarry-style is not right for Police Scotland.”
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