New body armour for PCs should prove more comfortable to wear

Police officers in Cumbria could soon be issued with new body armour worth £600,000.

The proposal to issue the force with the new UK standard uniforms follows complaints from officers of backache and difficulty driving, while using the current equipment.

But the hi-tech gear is less stab-resistant than the existing armour, according to police chiefs.

Deputy Chief Constable Christine Twigg described it as “very heavy” and said there have been dangerous incidents when officers have not been wearing protection.

But despite having a lower stab resistance, Mrs Twigg believes the new gear will be easier for officers to wear and hopefully increase safety as a result.

Speaking at a meeting of the Cumbria Police Authority on Wednesday, Mrs Twigg said: “Within our constabulary, an officer was injured and those injuries would have been much greater if the officer had not been wearing body armour.

“The new armour is lightweight and can be worn at all times, which is much more protective.

“There are two levels of stab protection and we have always gone for level two, which is the greatest.

“That no longer exists as the new standard protection is level one.

“But because of the flexibility of the new armour, it has the same stab protection.”

Equipment can also be strategically placed on the armour to increase safety.

The new armour, which will be made to measure and easier for female officers to wear, is expected to be issued to the force over the next five years.

Police authority member and Millom county councillor, Ray Cole, welcomed the move and compared the current bulky body armour to that of Sir Lancelot.

He said: “We live in a totally different society to what we did years ago.

“Body armour is essential protection for our officers on the front line.

“I support this to be introduced straight across the board as soon as possible.”

The cost of the armour will be financed from the forecast revenue of 2008/9, subject to funds being available at the end of the financial year.