Police Officers Uniform In The UK
A certified police officer can have many duties, depending upon the police force unit to which they are assigned. Police officers protect the lives and property of citizens. They maintain order, catch lawbreakers, and work to prevent crimes. In small towns they perform many duties. Larger cities have a more structured division of responsibility. Police officers may patrol the streets on foot or in squad cars; control traffic; or work as detectives investigating crimes. At the police station officers may be assigned to work in the crime laboratory or the records department. All officers file reports of incidents, and many testify at trials and hearings.
Shirts, Long or Short Sleeve
Police officers and police staff on operational deployment will wear wicking shirts or the equivalent as per the roles kit list, on other non-operational occasions such as appearing at court or on training days, officers and staff will wear the formal shirt with ties.
Shirts will be tucked into trousers or skirts. Embroidered named epaulettes will be worn at all times. Undergarments worn under white shirts will be plain and appropriate in color.
Police Issue Ties
Police issue ties or the police cravat (for female officers) will be worn at all times, when wearing the formal shirt which will be buttoned up to and including top button. Female police staff may choose to wear a tie or cravat.
Police Issue Body Armor
The default position of the organization is that the body armor will be worn when on patrol unless the dynamic risk assessment indicates otherwise. They must be worn when engaged in activity or in areas where a dynamic risk assessment has shown it to be necessary.
All mentioned items of the uniform must be kept clean and in good repair. It is the responsibility of police officers and police staff to ensure lost/damaged items of uniform are replaced. Unless authorized to wear plain clothes uniformed police officers and police staff will wear uniform at all times when on duty. Except for footwear, uniformed police officers and police staff may wear only items issued by Police and authorized for the particular duty.
Police officers are responsible for enforcing the law within the city limits. New officers usually spend time on the street patrolling a certain area of the city. This may be in a car, on a motorcycle or bicycle or on foot. A city police officer probably experiences more diverse situations than any other law enforcement officer. This is because they can encounter nearly every type of criminal activity. They may respond to a burglary in progress, a domestic dispute, a shooting, a kidnapping, a suicide, etc.
Police work can be dangerous and stressful. Officers often deal with violent criminals and may be injured or killed. They must make quick decisions while on duty, yet be tactful and patient with people who are in trouble or have been victims of terrible crimes and abuse.
Ties and cravats may be removed at the discretion of an officer of the rank of Inspector or above. Police officers and police staff are only permitted to wear one small tie pin/enamel badge that would not be considered offensive or inappropriate, on the tie.
Trousers
UK police generally wear standard black trousers without extra pockets. most gear is carried either attached to a belt or on a tactical vest so leg pockets are not really needed.
Headwear
All officers and uniformed staff must wear the headwear they are issued with when on foot patrol. Headwear may be adapted or altered for the purposes of culture, faith or religious belief. Requests are to be discussed with your line manager in the first instance. Please see ‘ordering your uniform’ section, for further information.
