"We would need to consider our own rules and cultural sensitivity. We don't have any barriers relating to the burqa," Chief Constable Dave Thompson told Sputnik.
"As it stands we have not had any approaches from potential recruits asking to wear the burqa, but if such an approach was made it is something we would have to consider. Serving the people of the West Midlands is at the heart of what we do and I would need to carefully consider anything that could be seen as standing in the way of that relationship."
These latest developments come shortly after the police in Scotland said they would allow Muslim women to wear the hijab and will make it an official optional part of the forces' uniform.
The hijab is now an optional part of Police Scotland uniform. More at https://t.co/IeOAJGsORZ #PolScotRecruit 1/2
— Police Scotland (@policescotland) August 23, 2016
However, not everyone in Europe feels the same way. It was only last month that police officers in Nice forced a Muslim woman to remove her burkini in front of people on a packed beach.
The debate and controversy around the burkini — and to some degree the hijab — have caused many women, from all backgrounds and faiths, to protest at what they see as intolerance and inequality.
@Titanic_Britain Unbelievable! West Midlands police is thinking of hiring women who wear full burqa as part of the uniform. What the heck?
— Mira S. Ghoshal (@MiraGhoshal) 9 September 2016
West Midlands Police has announced the recruitment of around 800 new police officers. Around 30 per cent of the West Midlands community are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (BME) while 9 per cent of West Midlands' 7,000 police officers are from the BME community.
"What's important here is that we reflect the community we serve. We've already taken significant steps with a third of our current recruits from BME backgrounds but there's far more to be done," Chief Constable Thompson told Sputnik.
