Ahead of the curve: Third force rolls out new-look ‘Bump Caps’

Northamptonshire Police has become the third force to swap traditional helmets for reinforced caps in a bid to improve officers’ safety. The force began issuing officers with so-called ‘Bump Caps’ on Wednesday (May 10) to replace Custodian and Bowler hats. The new headgear is both lighter and more comfortable than that worn in other force areas – and means officers will no longer receive different qualities of head protection because of their gender. The replacement process will be finished by June 9, although the traditional hats will still be used for ceremonial purposes. Chief Constable Simon Edens said: “This is a very significant change for the force and I welcome it wholeheartedly. “Our officers and PCSOs are well equipped for 21st century policing but now the introduction of this new headgear will better protect them as they protect people from harm.” Cheshire Constabulary became the first force to adopt the new-look caps last May following two successful trials. Almost 65 per cent of the officers involved reported the hats were practical and nine in ten felt they should become a standard part of the force’s new uniform. These findings were mirrored in a recent poll by Marc Jones, police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Lincolnshire, which found 66 per cent of people agree with officers wearing reinforced caps if they are more practical. The second force to adopt the hats was Lancashire Constabulary, which introduced them as part of a wider uniform update. North Wales Police has previously brought in ‘Bump Caps’ in 2006 but dropped them four years later. Thames Valley Police also considered introducing the headwear in 2010, but abandoned the plans after public consultation. During its own research, Northamptonshire Police found male officers and PCSOs preferred a flat cap to both Custodian helmets and baseball-style hats. However, these were rejected because they could not provide an adequate standard of protection. The force also found that removing gender-based headgear will take down a barrier to non-binary transgender people applying to join the police service. Northamptonshire PCC Stephen Mold welcomed the announcement, saying: “My role is to ensure the force has the appropriate funding and equipment to perform at its best and make Northamptonshire safer. “I think this is absolutely the right time to update and provide this new, fit for purpose headgear.”