The ruling VVD has sided with far right opposition parties, and the Socialists, to pass a motion banning local council wardens from wearing headscarves.

The motion was drawn up by the anti-immigration PVV following the news that Utrecht city council is planning to allow its wardens to wear head scarves and Jewish yarmulkes.

The motion says that current police regulations, which call for ‘lifestyle neutrality’ should also apply to the wardens. The police code of conduct states that police officers are not allowed to display religious and other lifestyle convictions while dealing with the public.

Utrecht councillors voted in favour of allowing headscarves after local police chief Martin Sitalsing said he did not see any objection to the idea. Mayor Sharon Dijksma said at the time that she would talk to the other big cities before implementing the measure.

Justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus has said the decision is a local issue and local authorities can decide what their own staff should wear.

In 2017, the national police force said it would set aside a ruling from the equal opportunities committee which said a Muslim officer should be able to wear a headscarf while dealing with phone reports from the public.