Police armour’s ‘woke’ redesign to look less intimidating

‘I am not concerned what the public think they look like. I want them to be able to come home every night’

POLICE body armour is being redesigned in an attempt to make it look less aggressive and to fit female officers.

MPS have reacted furiously to the proposal with one labelling it “woke”.

An official request for assistance in “improving public perception of policing” was issued by the Government’s Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory.

It suggested that “recognisable brands, covert armour or modern designs that look less intimidating” may be preferable to current uniforms.

However, Home Office sources have claimed that the move comes at the request of female officers who have complained the uniforms are ill-fitting and manly.

They say Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, ordered the review.

Sir John Hayes, the chairman of the Common Sense Group of Conservative MPS condemned the move.

He told The Mail On Sunday: “Body armour protects police officers from those who seek to harm them.

“It’s neither a fashion statement nor is it a way of symbolising the politically correct, woke preoccupations of out-of-touch bourgeois bureaucrats.” He said that just two years ago Ms Patel said she wanted offenders to be “fearful of committing any criminal activities on our streets”.

He added: “The police play their part in doing that. So let’s reassure the lawabiding and frighten those who are not.”

Ken Marsh, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the key issue was whether the body armour protected police officers – not how it looked.

He said: “I don’t think it looks intimidating. What I want for my officers is the best capability of protecting them.

“I am not overly concerned what the public think they look like. I want them to be able to come home every night.”

A Home Office spokesman said that the changes are being considered because of their “increasingly diverse police force”.

They said a recent spike in hiring resulted in a larger number of female officers in need of armour.

The spokesman said: “Thanks to the Government manifesto commitment to hire 20,000 new police officers to keep our streets safe, there are more female officers than ever before.

“The Home Secretary regularly speaks to brave female officers that tell her body armour is tailored for male bodies and unsuitable for our increasingly diverse police force.

“That’s why she has asked for research to be carried out to improve the fit and wearability of body armour so all our officers can be protected while working to protect us.”