North Yorkshire Police have incorporated a hijab into their official uniform.
PC Uzma Amireddy, who designed the headscarf with PC Arfan Rahouf, first wore it during a shift on Monday.
She tweeted: "I was afraid when I started wearing hijab, fearing that this may hinder me in policing especially in proactive roles.
"Now finally it is part of a uniform @NYorksPolice let's hope the future is optimistic in sha Allah."
PC Rahouf joined her in celebrating the change in uniform.
"After many months of designing a new Hijab, I am happy to say myself & @PCUAmireddy have now achieved this!!" he tweeted.
"@PCUAmireddy is wearing the new Hijab whilst on shift today, fantastic to hear she feels really comfortable wearing it!!"
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson commended their accomplishment and said "inclusion and diversity" is a "key agenda" for the police service.
"It's really important for North Yorkshire Police to make sure that the uniform for each and every police officer is fit for purpose," they said.
They acknowledged the need to be "more representative" of the communities they serve, in order to be "an inclusive workforce" and "deliver a better service".
They said this involves listening to the needs of officers and "ensuring there is an avenue by which issues such as this can be raised and solved".
"PC Amireddy and PC Rahouf have worked really hard to drive this positive action and collaborated with colleagues across the force to make this important change happen," they said.
Metropolitan Police also offer the option of a uniform hijab, which they approved in 2006, with Police Scotland following suit in 2016.
New Zealand Police made a similar change last week in a bid to encourage more Muslim women to become police officers.
