Self-conscious police do not feel pretty in pink masks

Fashion-conscious police are in revolt after receiving batches of pink face masks to wear on duty. Police units in six cities – Bologna, Pavia, Varese, Ferrara, Venice and Syracuse – were sent the FFP2 masks from the office of Italy’s Covid-19 emergency commissioner, Francesco Paolo Figliuolo. Many of the officers refused to wear the “inappropriate” masks, prompting Stefano Paolini, the chief of a police union, to write a letter of complaint to the interior ministry.

Paolini said the problem did not arise because of prejudice against the colour pink, “but from the fact that the uniform is regulated”.