WA police win approval to grow beards

Hirsute hipsters will no longer be barred from becoming law enforcers, with a ban on beards to be lifted by the Western Australian Police Force.

Commissioner Chris Dawson announced to the Police Union's annual conference on Monday that the WA Police Corporate Board had agreed on an acceptable beard policy last week.

It seems being able to grow facial hair is a big deal among the state's cops.

"I was surprised to know that this was number one on the hit parade," Mr Dawson said.

Union president George Tilbury said beards had been on the conference agenda for many years and was a hot topic among police on social media, "something they all get excited about".

Mr Dawson displayed pictures depicting numerous former police commissioners from the early 20th and 19th century sporting long beards when it was the norm.

Those wanting to grow beards will have to do so during their holidays as "we don't want people coming to work unshaven', he said.