The blue polo shirt that will replace the present shirt worn by on-duty officers will become part of the Gardai’s new uniform starting today.
Only three times in the history of the force has the uniform seen a formal change. And for the first time, parts of the uniform other than the cap will bear the Garda crest.
The current Garda cap will remain in operation as a “unique and distinctive element’ of the Garda uniform, while shirts and ties are being dropped.
The new uniform has been sent to around 13,000 officers in the force who hold the ranks of Garda, Seargeant, and Inspector over the course of the last few months.
An Garda Síochána has previously updated its uniform policy to embrace the wearing of official headwear for religious and cultural reasons and beliefs including Turban, Kufi, Topi, Kippah, or Hijab.
The new Garda uniform is also a key recommendation outlined in the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland Report, ‘A Police Service For Our Future.