Victorian Chief Police Commissioner Ken Lay is facing a legal battle to get police officers to remove their facial hair and ponytails.
About a dozen officers have complained to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, who are investigating whether the new appearance standards are discriminatory, the
Herald Sun reports.
The complainants, which include a senior detective and a police prosecutor, are exempted from the new policy, which came into force on January 1, until the Commission's investigation is completed.
Facial hair banned under the new standards includes beards, handlebar moustaches, mutton chops and goatees, with officers growing beards for religious, cultural or medical reasons exempt.
Ponytails and jewellery have also been banned for both female and male officers.
Female officers will be disciplined if they wear make-up of nail polish that is not in natural tones.
A male officer of 30 years told the Herald Sun that his facial hair would be staying on.
"Victoria Police is 150 years old. I bet there were police commissioners who wore beards back in the day," he said.
Victoria police is yet to decide on tattoos.
Association assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie said they would take action if officers were forced to cover up or remove tattoos.
"All of our members should be treated the same," he said.
The Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission confirmed the complaints and said they would try to resolve cases through a "confidential conciliation process", the Herald Sun reported.
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