Did Hertfordshire Police force break uniform code for trans officer?

Did force break its own uniform code for trans trailblazer? Hertfordshire Police is slammed after Special Constable Cherry wears garish green nails and heavy eyeliner

• Police chiefs face criticism because Special Constable Cherry O’Donnell, 49, appears to breach official uniform policy in Twitter image
• ‘Female officers on duty would not be allowed to wear the amount of make-up officer Cherry wears,’ wrote one critic
•  The force’s Dress And Equipment Code And Standards Policy states: ‘Individuals should keep make-up discreet or in connection with your religion/faith. Individuals in operational roles must ensure nails are kept short and any nail varnish must be neutral in colour.’

Standing with garish green nails and heavy eyeliner, the trailblazing transgender officer in a publicity photograph was intended as an on-message symbol of a forward-thinking police force.

But Hertfordshire police chiefs have faced a barrage of criticism because Special Constable Cherry O’Donnell, 49, appears to breach official uniform policy in the image.

Since the picture was tweeted, senior officers at the force’s HQ in Hatfield have fielded a number of official complaints.

‘Female officers on duty would not be allowed to wear the amount of make-up officer Cherry wears,’ wrote one critic. 

A publicity photograph of Special Constable Cherry O’Donnell. The picture of the trailblazing transgender 49-year-old – standing with garish green nails and heavy eyeliner – was intended as an on-message symbol of a forward-thinking police force

‘Surely officer Cherry should be subject to the same regulations. Is Herts police signalling that some officers do not have to follow the rules?’

The force’s Dress And Equipment Code And Standards Policy states: ‘Individuals should keep make-up discreet or in connection with your religion/faith. 

‘Individuals in operational roles must ensure nails are kept short and any nail varnish must be neutral in colour.’

One complainant asked whether the special constable was exempt from the rules by identifying as trans. 

‘This is not an appropriately professional look for a police officer in uniform and should be addressed,’ the complainant wrote. 

A former officer said: ‘I spent 13 years in uniform – very discreet make-up, no nail polish.’

The force’s Twitter account, which has 130,000 followers, posted the picture last week with the caption: ‘Remember Cherry? You might have read her story in September when she was a newly attested Special Constable. 

Since the picture was tweeted, senior officers at the force’s HQ in Hatfield have fielded a number of official complaints. ‘Female officers on duty would not be allowed to wear the amount of make-up officer Cherry wears,’ wrote one critic

‘A lot has happened for SC Cherry O’Donnell since then. Read her latest news.’

A second photograph showed the officer sporting scarlet-red nails and fake eyelashes, sparking hundreds of messages of complaint.

The force, which serves more than a million people, took the image down, warning that ‘derogatory comments’ would be ‘reported’.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said: ‘Our volunteers enjoy a little more discretion as long as health and safety principles are not compromised. 

‘We removed the tweet following unhelpful comments from a relatively small number, many of which were irrelevant to the meaning and spirit of the post.’

The force prides itself on its diversity policy. 

In 2018 it was the first in Britain to introduce ‘gender-neutral hats’ to support trans officers, meaning they no longer needed to wear female-only bowlers.

The £174,000-a-year Chief Constable Charlie Hall raises a rainbow flag supporting LGBT rights every year at Hatfield police station.

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