A number of pink masks were allocated to police forces in several Italian provinces, including Pavia, Varese, Ferrara, Siracusa and Venice.
But a union of Italian police officers has denounced the move, saying the “eccentric” colour could “damage the image of the institution”, Italian news agency ANSA reports.
In a letter to the head of the national police force, the secretary-general of the Autonomous Police Union (SAP) protested against the masks.
“We call for immediate action to ensure that colleagues serve with masks of a different colour e.g. white, blue, blue or black," the letter reads.
“In any case [masks should be] consistent with the uniform of the State Police, avoiding devices in other colours or with any decorations to be considered absolutely inappropriate.”
The union added it is not prejudiced against the colour but has objected given police officers’ strict uniform policy.
In Italy, face masks are mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces, while FFP2 masks must be worn when using public transport, or entering theatres, concert halls and cinemas until April.
