Daily US Times: To encourage more Muslim women to join in, New Zealand Police have introduced a hijab into their official uniform.
Constable Zeena Ali, who was recruited recently, will become the first officer to wear the official hijab.
A spokesperson for the police said they aimed to create an “inclusive” service reflecting the country’s “diverse community”.
Other forces such as the Police Scotland and Metropolitan Police in London offer the option of a uniform hijab.
The Metropolitan Police in London approved a uniform hijab in 2006 with Police Scotland approved it in 2016. In Australia, Maha Sukkar, an officer for Victoria Police wore a hijab in 2004.
Work to develop the hijab for its uniform began in late 2018, New Zealand Police said.
According to police, the decision was taken in response to a request from police staff who visited secondary schools.
Constable Ali, who was born in Fiji and moved to New Zealand as a child, was the first recruit to request it as part of her police uniform and was invited to take part in the development process.
She told the New Zealand Herald she decided to join the police after the Christchurch terror attack.
She added: “I realised more Muslim women were needed in the police, to go and support people.”
Ali says it feels great to be able to go out and show the New Zealand Police hijab as part of her uniform.
“I think that seeing it, more Muslim women will want to join as well,” she said.
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