Court rules Victorian police officers have to give beards the chop

Victoria's bearded police have lost their bid to keep their facial hair and ponytails after a Supreme Court judge upheld a tribunal decision that found the force's policy wasn't discriminatory.

Police officers had unsuccessfully challenged former chief commissioner Ken Lay's ban on beards and ponytails at the Victorian Civil and Administrative tribunal, arguing they were discriminated against on the basis of their physical appearance.

Mr Lay issued the orders, telling officers beards and facial hair made police look untrustworthy and diminish public trust.

Sixteen senior police officers from across Victoria took the matter to court, saying they were being discriminated against.

“The motto of the Victorian police is to uphold the right,” Leading Senior Constable Michael Kuyken, told reporters when he lodged the case in 2012.

“Today is our first step in upholding our rights.”

But Supreme Court judge Gregory Garde today found there was no error by the tribunal's 2013 finding in favour of Mr Lay, and dismissed the matter.

He ordered the police officers who challenged the ban to pay Victoria Police's costs.

Beards are allowed for religious reasons but soul patches, goatees, full beards or longer male hair tied at the back, is banned.

Officers in NSW and Queensland are allowed to wear well-trimmed, full beards.