Ahead on uniform

The news that another force is to issue bump caps instead of ‘traditional’ headwear has caused a stir, but Chief Constable Simon Byrne says they have been well received in Cheshire as officers want to ‘move with the times’. In May 2016, Cheshire Constabulary phased out the classic custodian helmet, peaked caps and bowlers in favour of hard baseball-style ‘bump caps’. Since then, two other forces – Lancashire Constabulary and Northamptonshire Police – have adopted the hats, and are already reaping the benefits in terms of practicality and protection. Although Cheshire Constabulary spent nine months as the only force in the country using bump caps as part of its standard uniform, it was not the first force to introduce them. In 2006, North Wales Police rolled out its own version, but reverted back to more traditional headwear just four years later. According to North Wales Police Federation, the new uniform had always been controversial with more “traditional” officers as it was felt they suited younger officers better. Historically, the backlash to bump caps has not only come from officers. North Wales Police’s announcement in 2006 was derided as “crimes against fashion” by the public, with many claiming they felt the hats reduced officers’ authority. Eleven years later, a similar reaction emerged to Northamptonshire Police’s announcement – one commenter on Police Professional’s coverage ironically described them as “full of dignity and gravitas”. However, a year on in, Cheshire, bump caps look set to stay. “Frankly, the public reaction has been relatively benign,” said Chief Constable Simon Byrne. “We haven’t had a cry that we’ve broken the tradition. They have been in place now for over a year, and I think people just accept it as part of the day-to-day. “While we have not pleased everybody, the public has been broadly supportive. I can’t think of one formal example where we’ve had any adverse feedback.” Surprisingly, achieving this smooth rollout did not require any significant implementation policy. After a poll found seven in ten members of the public agreed bump caps were a more practical option for officers, the force began trialling the hats in Chester and Northwich to get an evidence base for their success. During this trial, BBC News was filming officers in Chester for an unrelated story, and broadcast footage of officers wearing the new caps. Despite appearing on national television, no one seemed to notice the difference, and Mr Byrne did not receive any negative feedback. Another crucial step in the pre-implementation process was researching what officers themselves thought of the new headwear. More than nine in ten respondents described them as something positive that should be a standard part of uniform, largely because of their increased practicality. Bump caps are typically more stable than Custodians and flat caps, meaning they are less likely to blow off in strong winds, and are easier to keep on while running or getting out of a car. The benefits of bump caps are more than practical. Although he was unwilling to disclose exact figures, Mr Byrne confirmed the hats cost approximately half the price of a flat cap and a third of a custodian helmet. Over time, the implementation is expected to pay for itself. For Northamptonshire Police, the caps will also play an important part in breaking down barriers. By not issuing headwear based on officers’ gender, the force believes it will remove an obstacle to non-binary transgender people joining the police service. Although Cheshire Constabulary did not specifically consider this when planning for the rollout, other forces are aware of the potential benefits; in March, Dyfed-Powys Police announced that it is considering reviewing its uniform policy to better allow employees to express their preferred identities. However, the acceptance rate is not quite as high in all areas of the country. In a recent poll, Marc Jones, police and crime commissioner for Lincolnshire, found 66 per cent of officers would accept bump caps