Police Equipment

In most areas now, Specials are provided with the same equipment as their regular colleagues. While the exact type of equipment varies from force to force, typically a Special will carry a baton, handcuffs, a personal radio and some form of incapacitating spray. In addition, most police officers in the UK routinely wear a stab vest (body armour) too.

Handcuffs

The "bracelet" style handcuffs (two cuffs linked by a chain) were replaced years ago by "rigid" style cuffs, as seen here.

These cuffs not only provide a method of restraint, but can be used to force a struggling prisoner to the ground, if necessary.

Baton

The beloved (but practically useless) wooden truncheon gave way to a baton in the early 1990's.

PR24 Extendible Baton	ASP Extendible Baton	Side-Handled Baton

Several different types are used by police forces in the UK, a few of them are illustrated above.  Each type of baton has a set of techniques for use. Officers receive "conflict training" on these skills.  Batons are provided as a defensive tool, used by the officer to protect themself or others if necessary.

Personal Radio

Every officer carries a personal radio ("PR") which they use to keep in touch with their control room. It can be a vital life-line!

All Home Office forces, as well as British Transport Police, have in the last few years introduced new digital "tetra" PRs (also known as "Airwave"). This radio system replaces the now aged analogue PR system.

The Airwave service is a digital radio communications network designed to meet the needs of the police and other public safety organisations.

The contract to provide the Airwave service was awarded in February 2000 by the Police Information Technology Organisation ( PITO ), on behalf of the Home Office. The service is based on the European open standard TETRA.  TETRA is short for TErrestrial Trunked RAdio, an open European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standard for digital trunked radio.

Incapacitant Spray

Police officers in England, Wales and Scotland are now issued with an incapacitant spray as part of their personal protection equipment.

When squirted in the face of a violent or dangerous suspect, the spray creates a reaction with the mucus membranes, causing the eyes to sting and forcing them shut. It also makes the nose run uncontrollably (nice!). The effects wear off after a short time and there are no lasting side-effects.

CS spray is more commonly used, but a few police forces issue "PAVA" or "pepper" spray which has been found to be more effective in some situations.

Stab Vest / Body Armour

Most forces now issue their officers with stab vests (also known as body armour) for use on routine patrol. Many forces require their officers to wear it at all times.

These provide upper body protection against attack by sharp instruments like knives, blades, screwdrivers and the like, as well as some protection from firearms. 

Body armour is typically heavy, bulky and uncomfortable but has become a necessary piece of safety equipment, even though attacks on police officers in the UK are thankfully very rare.

 

Taser

The Taser is an electric stun-gun which provides police officers with a less lethal alternative to firearms.  The guns fire needle-tipped darts into the body and deliver a short, disabling, 50,000-volt shock.  The effect is to completely incapacitate the recipient while being shocked, but there is no long-term effect.

Tasers have been issued to firearms officers across the UK and the Home Office is keen to encourage their wider use following a 12-month trial with 10 police forces where their use was extended to suitably-trained frontline officers.

Following the trial, in early 2009 the Home Office ordered a further 6,000 Tasers for use by police forces.  Use of the weapons will be limited to situations where officers or members of the public face the threat of serious violence and at the time of writing, they are still not routinely issued to frontline patrol  officers.