A police union has told its members they can sport beards, dye their hair and wear coloured nail polish, as a debate on personal grooming turns into an industrial dispute.

The Malta Police Union had taken issue with a circular, issued by the Police Commissioner, imposing that non-uniformed members are obliged to shave their beard, under the threat of disciplinary action for non-compliance.

Its Executive Committee has now registered a Trade Dispute against the Commissioner, latter has “failed to acknowledge and let alone give a reply” to its request to repeal the circular.It also told the police chief that his order is “unlawful.”

The Police Act states that: “Uncleanliness, that is to say, if a member of the Force while on duty or while off duty in uniform in a public place is unshaven, or improperly dressed, or is dirty or untidy in his person, clothing or equipment.”

The MPU said the Act does not provide for any derogation, addition or subtraction by the Commissioner of Police. “The Commissioner, like everyone must abide with the legislation, enacted by the President of Malta, after it passed the legislative process.”

The circular issued by the Police Commissioner states that male members of the force are not permitted to sport a beard.

“It seems that the principle ‘Ubi lex voluit dixit, Ubi noluit tacuit’ (when the law wills, it speaks, when it does not, it is silent) has not been adopted by the Malta Police Force, and the Commissioner of Police turned legislator and added what the law did not consider, rendering his position ultra vires,” the MPU said.

In view of this, the union informed its male members that, as from Monday 8 November, they can sport a beard, as long as it is well groomed, irrespective of whether they are uniformed or plain-clothes officers.

All members of the Force, whilst on all duties and at the ADF are not to wear their police cap.

Hair may be dyed, except in conspicuous colours), and nail polish of any colour may be used.