A POLICE force is to be drilled on keeping up appearances.

Cleveland Police is breaking ranks to become the only force in the North-East to have a formal dress code, covering everything from body piercing to cartoon character socks.

The question of what is acceptable came to a head recently after a number of requests from officers of both sexes - and support staff - to wear eyebrow studs.

The Northumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire forces do not have formal dress codes. They said it was left to supervisory officers to see that people are smartly and appropriately turned out.

Durham Police said the last word was with the chief constable, though dress was generally a matter of common sense.

A chief inspector with the North Yorkshire force said the matter of a formal policy had largely been avoided because it presented "a poisoned chalice".

But Inspector Clive Pengilley, equal opportunities and diversity officer with Cleveland Police - the man given the task of drawing up a dress code - said he liked nothing better than a challenge.

He said: "The days of Dixon of Dock Green are no more. We will be one of the first forces changing from tunics to blouson jackets, and standards will still apply to what we wear and how we look on duty."

The code will affect more than 2,000 regular police officers, support staff and special constables and Insp Pengilley predicts it could give rise to "emotive issues".

One officer he knows lost a finger when he caught a wedding ring while scaling a fence chasing a criminal at night, and he says piercing can lead to injuries when they are torn or pulled.

He said: "It is what is acceptable and what is common sense."

There will full consultation with rank and file before the code is introduced in April.