A 31-year-old police woman has taken the police leadership to court after she broke her thumb falling down stairs, the AD said on Thursday.

The woman argues the new police uniform, introduced in 2014, is unsuitable for carrying batons, and this caused her to fall. Her injuries resulted her being confined to desk work for several months because she could not take part in shooting tests.

The uniform trousers have a pocket for the baton which all police officers are required to carry. However, the pocket is not sewn in strongly enough, causing the baton too hang too low and get caught behind the wearer’s knee.

‘This is a question of principle,’ lawyer Paul Boezeman told the AD. ‘Police officers have to carry a baton and then the leadership should ensure the uniform makes it possible to do this safely.’

Boezeman represented the injured officer on behalf of the ACP police union.

Judges ruled in the woman’s favour last month, describing the uniform as ‘flimsy’ and therefore ‘potentially dangerous’.  This means the police must now compensate her for her medical expenses, the AD said.

A police spokesman told the paper a committee is now looking into whether or not the uniform should be adapted.