Musculoskeletal damage, crushed testicles and lumps in breasts are just some examples of the harm police officers say they experience because of ill-fitting, uncomfortable and low-quality uniforms.

Officers responding to the first national uniform and equipment survey across all 43 forces in England and Wales reported symptoms so severe that some had to have multiple operations.

Others told how criminals warned them their uniforms left vital areas of their body exposed and even acted as a “guide” as to where they could be stabbed.

Belinda Goodwin, a former frontline officer who works for the Police Federation, had two operations to remove fistulas from her breasts that she said were caused by ill-fitting body armour.

“We had one model and size of stab vest for both men and women, and we had to wear them eight to 10 hours a day,” she said. “The pressure for women on our breasts was intense; we were completely flattened.

“Being unable to adjust them for hours on end when you were wearing them in a public-facing role was torture. Driving in them was horrific and dangerous: they rammed up into your chin.

“After my second operation, the consultant told me that they couldn’t operate again if the fistulas returned because I’d have no breast left to remove. I realised I had no choice but to leave frontline policing entirely.”

Almost 21,000 police officers and staff responded to the survey conducted by Lancaster University law school led by Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace, in collaboration with the Police Federation of England and Wales and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

One officer said: “The current body armour doesn’t seem to provide adequate coverage on officer’s bodies, with large areas, including armpit areas, exposed compared to other forces’ vests that feel a lot more protective.

“On numerous occasions, offenders have commented on how exposed our kit leaves us, and state that our kit acts as a target of where to be stabbed.”

More than 60% of men and 85% of women reported a physical health condition that they believed was caused by or made worse through wearing uniform.

The most commonly worn garments were the most problematic: 61% complained about body armour; 69% flagged cargo trousers.

The survey also found inconsistent uniform quality across forces, with access to high-performance kit depending more on local budgets than operational need: negative experiences ranged from 29% in North Yorkshire to 75% in nearby South Yorkshire.

One officer said: “Cargo trousers are too restrictive when struggling with suspects. On foot patrol or foot chases, [they] do not allow for flexibility to climb, jump or fight as you should.”

Another said: “The standard fit of the patrol/cargo trousers is not fit for purpose. They are extremely tight around the groin/thigh area and often cause rubbing and soreness.”

But for another officer, the trousers were too loose: “The cargo trousers are completely unsuitable for frontline policing – they are baggy and dangerous.”

The survey also found uniforms did not enable officers to carry all their equipment. “The utility vest does not offer enough room to add all items that the force requires us to carry,” said one officer.

Another said: “The utility vest causes horrific back pain as the amount of equipment, and weight of that equipment, is too much to all be placed on the front.”

When officers reported the problems, however, the survey found that their complaints were often trivialised and dismissed: almost 40% of officers had made a complaint but only 8% received replacement uniform.

One force’s female members bought their own rather than use their department’s trousers because the crotch was too short.

“Concerns were raised and women’s health issues were not given appropriate consideration by the men deciding what we should wear. It was viewed as more of a fashion issue, and anxiety about body image and the medical issues, such as thrush, were ignored,” she said.

The PFEW is calling on the Home Office to create coordinated procurement standards for uniforms with a higher minimum national standard.

Melissa Russhard, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for uniform, said: “This survey will help give us the mandate to push forward with our moves towards setting national standardisation for uniform requirements and end the postcode lottery that exists.”

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “We refer to individual police forces, given decisions on uniform are a matter for them.”