China gives fashion instructions to police

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's police have been given new orders -- no strangely dyed hair, no beards, no sideburns; and leave your scarfs and jewellery at home.

The Ministry of Public Security has issued the order to "establish a good image for the people's police", domestic media said on Thursday.

"When police are in uniform on duty, they are not allowed to wear scarfs or jewellery, paint their nails, or have colorfully dyed hair," the Beijing News said, citing the new rules.

"Male police officers cannot have long or curly hair, sideburns, shave their hair bald or have beards," it said, adding female police officers cannot have hair longer than shoulder length.

"Unless there is a specific job need or illness of the eye, police cannot wear colored glasses," it added.

The police are also banned from smoking in public and entering places of entertainment such as bars, unless for work, while in uniform, according to the regulations which take effect this month.

Those who violate the rules will be given a warning or may be sacked, it said.

It is not the first time the government has given fashion tips.

In April, Beijing prohibited female taxi drivers from dying their hair bright red or yellow and from wearing chunky earrings, hoping to improve the city's image ahead of next year's Olympics.