Police uniform will not be changed, despite headscarf ruling: minister

The Dutch police force will remain neutral in appearance in its dealings with the public, justice minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus has told parliament in the wake of Monday’s ruling about an admin worker who wants to wear a headscarf to work.

The Dutch human rights council said in its ruling that the woman should be able to combine a hijab with police uniform because she had few dealings with the public and those she did have were via a video screen.

The ruling, which is not binding, has been interpreted by some as giving the green light to Muslim police officers to wear the hijab.

Grapperhaus said in a reaction to MPs that the human rights council had stressed the legitimacy of the the importance of a neutral, uniform police appearance.

The police code of conduct states that police officers are not allowed to display religious and other lifestyle convictions while dealing with the public, Grapperhaus said.

‘This code of conduct was established in 2011 following a wide-ranging consultation period involving police, unions and local government and was confirmed by my predecessor,’ Grapperhaus said.