Petition · past parliament
To allow soldiers who serve in the British Army to wear neat/trimmed facial hair
Closed
8,905 signatures
What the petition asks
The Royal Navy are allowed to grow beards through their tradition. The British Army used to grow beards however that was lost and now they have to parade clean shaven. Growing a beard hugely increases moral (from a survey) and contributes to operational effectiveness through psychological means.
Many Middle Eastern and Indian cultures associated wisdom and power with facial hair. As a result, facial hair and moustaches became increasingly common among British soldiers during the great wars. During the Crimean War, all ranks were encouraged to grow full beards during winter. More recently, the British Army has been seen sporting a full range of stubble, moustaches and beards on Ops to blend in.
Given the current Terrorism Level, it also helps to 'blend in' in a civilian environment.
Given the current Terrorism Level, it also helps to 'blend in' in a civilian environment.
Timeline
| 23 Sep 2015 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 23 Mar 2016 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
8,905
Status
Closed
Opened
23 Sep 2015
Closed
23 Mar 2016
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.