What is the point of the police wearing High Visiability Jackets?

Question

Have you ever noticed that the UK Police seem to wear black anti stab vests on top of the high visibility jackets, making them useless.

Does anyone else think this seems crazy, surely wearing the anti stab vests under the hi vis jacket makes more sense

I know what Hi Vis jackets are for I wear them for work and have 2 in my car, my question relates to why they cover them up - please read questions in full

Thank you Mofo and Ian, I just can't see the sense. bit like having seat belts and not wearing them

Answer 1

You would think so, but that's probably far too sensible a suggestion...

Answer 2

I can quite easily understand how and why this problem has come about, and I'm sure that the explanation given by the serving policeman elsewhere on this page is correct. What puzzles me though, is why can't someone figure out that if they made the anti-stab vests and equipment harnesses out of high visibility material, they would resolve the problem.

To be honest though, it does appear to me that a large number of Policemen and Policewomen, are far too overweight to do their job anyway. I doubt that they could run up a flag on the Police Station flagpole, let alone run after a criminal!

I don't suppose it helps that they are now having to wear so much kit that they all look like they are trying to impersonate Rambo. But I guess that's just the way it is nowadays.

Answer 3

Ok, im a cop and ill explain why its all gone mad with uniform...The reason is this;

High visibility jackets were issued so people could see the visible police force working, which woud promote public reassurance and deter criminals

(management thought of this, not me)

Then We as street police officers said yeah great we will wearwhateve you tell us, but now we cant get to our equirpment because uniform policy states the jackets must be done up.

So they changed th policy to state that the equipment vest is to be worn over the jacket.

Because many forces use the cheaper vests, they cant be adjusted over the jacket, so the police became that you have to wear the stab vest over the jacket to hold it in, then wear your equipment vest over the top for health an safety reasons.


Then we said cant we just go back to the old way please

and management said

NO you are the new user friendly customer and community focused POLICE SERVICE, who rely on public perception and high visibility patrols.

not the old fashioned rough police force.


Sorry folks but thats what you have ended up with as your police

Answer 4

If they wore the anti stab vests under the high visibility jackets, then the criminals would not know which police were wearing anti stab vests. That would defeat the purpose of the high visibility jackets. The purpose of the high visibility jackets is to show the criminals which police have removed their anti stab vests. If they could see the high visibility jackets on all the police, even when wearing anti stab vests, then the high visibility jackets would not work for the purpose of showing the criminals when the anti stab vests have been removed.

This was a joke. I think that you are correct. They should wear the high visibility jackets on the outside.

Answer 5

High visibility jackets are for that reason, 'high visibility'. It also makes it easier to spot an officer on CCTV.

As for wearing the stab vest on top of the jacket, this is not standard practice or the set rules. I wear mine under my jacket.

Answer 6

Having recently retired after 30 years service and never worn an anti stab vest I personally think that half the police officers nowadays with their batman utility belts and stab vests watch too much TV and want to look macho.Most modern officers are afraid to confront aggressive persons and are more unlikely to be injured now than they were 20 years ago.

Answer 7

yeah but the vest also acts as a deterrant from someone trying to stab a police officer in the first place. The vest does not cover the whole of the jacket, thus wearing the jacket underneath gives visibility (from the jacket) and a deterrant (in the form of a vest).

Answer 8

Yeah it's not in the rules... they're still technically effective as you can see the police officers arms..

I don't think I've seen them wear a vest over the jacket myself...

Answer 9

Only some cops do this. Police in my force (myself included) are of the opinion that this looks stupid. Plus the high viz stops you getting wet and stops the water knackering your stab vest.....

Answer 10

I can understand it when they are attending a road accident but not otherwise. It is time the authorities engaged in some joined up thinking

Answer 11

I don't think they wear the high-viz for safety reasons, they wear it because it's part of the uniform.

Also (and it's naughty of me, I know), high-viz jackets cost money!