Lancashire Police deny claims £3M was spent on new uniforms which 'could have been reused'
Lancashire Constabulary have disputed claims they spent £3,019,637 on brand-new uniforms since 2023, instead of reusing them for new recruits, with the force saying they always try to reuse uniform when possible
A national survey by accessory company Custom Embroidered Patches UK (CEPUK) claimed that Lancashire police had spent £3,019,637 on brand-new uniforms since 2023, instead of reusing them for new recruits.
That figure would put them in fourth-place for most money spent by all of the UK’s 44 police forces.
The data from CEPUK suggested that between the 21 police forces who were said to have a non-reuse policy, a whopping £123,557,224 had been splashed out since 2023 – more than enough to buy Preston North End twice in cash.
Police Scotland was said to have spent the most on new uniforms, at £9,570,202, spent on 16,799 officers. They were followed by Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, and Devon and Cornwall to make the top five.
With 3,765 officers at Lancashire Constabulary, between multiple sets of uniforms, badges, and kit, the figures would equate to approximately £458 per uniform. They were also said to have spent £921,950.06 on new uniforms this year alone.
However, speaking to the Lancashire Evening Post, Lancashire Constabulary said that claims they had spent millions on brand-new uniforms, instead of washing and reusing those in suitable conditions, were untrue.
“Our policy is to always reuse uniform when possible, depending on the condition in which it was returned to us,” a spokesperson said.
“If an item of uniform cannot be reused because of reasons such as the condition in which it was returned to us or wear and tear over time, then branded items are disposed of appropriately and non-branded items are donated to charity.
“All our policies are reviewed regularly.”
Lancashire Constabulary said that between April and August this year, they had saved £19,487.12 by reusing uniform.
Between 2024 and 2025, they said they had saved £34,489.21. Between 2025 and 2026, they said they had saved £35,534.86.
A spokesperson for CEPUK said that instead of buying brand new sets of uniforms for incoming officers, police forces nationwide should focus on reusing old uniforms that are still fit for purpose.
“When millions of pounds of public money are spent year upon year, the logistical challenge is clear, but these costs could be drastically reduced.
“Specialised police garments cannot simply be discarded due to severe security risks. It is absolutely vital that constabularies continue to adopt robust recycling strategies, ensuring taxpayer money is protected.
“These numbers highlight the truly staggering financial burden that regional police forces currently face when equipping their officers for the front line.”
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