Coppers today. Right scruffy bunch or what?

[Sara_H]

Why do they wear stab proof vests all the time? Some copper came to my house the other year,about some minor incident,(i was a witness not the perpetrator )I told him he was safe to take off his stab proof vest,but he said that he'd rather not as "attacks can happen at anytime by anyone"! Charming that we're all classed as potential knife wielding nutters!

A beat bobby had been assigned to accompany a family I was working with. Was a hot summers day, its very hot in my departmen at the best of times, she was sweating cobs.
"I think you'll be safe to take that off here, love" says I. She looked ever so happy as she dispensed with the garment of torture.

 

[Brandane]

Why do they wear stab proof vests all the time?

It's actually Force policy in most Forces when you're out of the Police station I think

It should be Force policy to wear one INSIDE the station, and make sure it covers your back - IME..

 

[ScotiaLass]

It should be Force policy to wear one INSIDE the station, and make sure it covers your back - IME..

May be a good idea, especially when people go about discharging firearms in the police station

 

[Cycleops]

I saw a 'policewoman' do that once. If she'd had a willy, maybe she would have had an elastic band round it. Instead, she had a stud through her navel, but I wasn't really paying attention to her. What struck me was how mortified the shy 18 year old lad whose party it was looked when she suddenly whipped her kit off in front of him. He definitely was not enjoying the situation, though his mates seemed to love it. (Before any CC wag suggests it - it was not my party! I was walking past a pub at the time, and saw this happening inside.)

Come on Colin, you don't expect us to believe that do you? You must have the eyes of a hawk to spot a naval stud at that distance!

 

[Cyclopathic]

The permanent wearing of hi vis... God how I hate it. I hate it so much. It's because "it makes us more approachable" and also "the public notice you and feel safe". There are other reasons that can be genuine (safety at Road traffic scenes etc) but for all of the genuine reasons you could just have a hi-vis coat to put on and off.

The combat style trousers aren't too bad. I find them an improvement over the old, more 'dress style' trousers that produced a ripped knee every single time you knelt down to handcuff a struggling suspect!

I once won an award and as a result got to attend a function and meet the Prime Minister. They still wouldn't issue me a tunic, I had to borrow one.

The uniform is only going to get worse. My force in particular has an utter obsession with hi-vis. I predict in five years you'll be able to see officers wearing hi-vis T-Shirts, Stab vests and baseball caps.

I would have been very tempted to have met the P.M. in the regular uniform. Hardly your fault.
I get the comfort thing and it's an active job so you need that. I've no problem with the combats, that was more tongue in cheek. The high vis though is a bit too much. It makes the police indistinguishable from just about every other municipal worker.
Flashing led's is surely the way forward. They could be discretely sewn into the uniform and turned on only when necessary. And they could be made to spell out relevant messages. "Keep Back" or "I'm available for your enquiries." or "You don't have to be mad to work here, but we have quotas to fill you know." That sort of a thing.

 

[vernon]

Come on Colin, you don't expect us to believe that do you? You must have the eyes of a hawk to spot a naval stud at that distance!

Nah, you can spot them a mile off

 

[SteCenturion]