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Metropolitan police say 31 of their officers broke lockdown rules to cut their hair at a police station while on duty.
The Met, Britain’s largest force, said each officer would face a flat £ 200 fine after their cut turned into an embarrassing brush with the law.
Under the rules for the national lockdown in England, barbers and hairdressers cannot operate due to fear that proximity to their clients could help the spread of the highly infectious Covid-19.
The haircut took place at the Bethnal Green police station, east London, on January 17, the Met said.
The force said it received reports that a professional hairdresser had been operating at the police station.
An investigation was launched with 31 officers identified as having sat in the barber’s chair, in violation of Covid regulations, and having cut their hair. The police chiefs have decided that they should be fined.
The Met said the investigation had identified two officers involved in organizing the marathon haircut session. They have been notified that they face an investigation for misconduct.
The incident is embarrassing in several ways for the Met. The latest blockade saw Police Commissioner Cressida Dick announce a crackdown on rule breakers among the public as infection rates soared.
Last week, nine Met officers were fined for having breakfast together, and the government wants police to lead the charge of stricter enforcement.
DCS Marcus Barnett, a local police chief, said: “It is deeply disappointing and frustrating that my officers have failed to meet expectations of abiding by Covid-19 regulations. Although the officers donated money to charities as part of the haircut, this does not excuse them for what was a very bad decision. I expect much more from them.
“So it is correct [that] Each of the officers must face a £ 200 fine as well as a misconduct action for the two who organized this event.
“Rightly, the public expects the police to be a role model in complying with regulations designed to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. I hope that this action shows that the police are not immune from the application of the rules, and that we are prepared as an organization to take action if we see that the officers have behaved irresponsibly. “
