71 replies to this topic

[General Purpose]

So, for those of you that have been on duty the past couple of days, especially on foot, how have you coped with the heat and the black uniform? I can safely say I was burning walking round the town centre. I had young males, who were topless say: "How can you wear that and still be alive... I'm even too hot like this." I did consider wearing my white shirt but thought "Hmm, that needs ironing. More heat for me then!"

[FidelChazztro]

I was wondering about this too when I was out with mates playing football and stopped to watch some Officers carrying out a s.1 in the park. It was excruciatingly hot and I wasn't in uniform. How do you guys cope, especially under all the PPE?

[SCK]

Took off stabby and went with tac vest. Still very hot!

[Übèrnamè]

Unfortunately I'm completely germ-a-phobic and won't go outside unless I have at least three layers on. I hate summer and work.

[Chewie]

So, for those of you that have been on duty the past couple of days, especially on foot, how have you coped with the heat and the black uniform?

You get used to it after a while. I tend to wear a t-shirt underneath my shirt (we wear dark blue shirts in Dorset) because on a really hot day the salt in your sweat stains the shirt terribly where the stabbie sits (see attached photo). Strangely, I also find a t-shirt makes you feel less clammy underneath all the kit - I don't know why! Incidentally, I always wear my stabbie when I'm out in public - a friend of mine had a knife pulled on him during a routine and seemingly innocent encounter, it's just not worth the risk not wearing it.

 SweatyShirt.JPG   312.6K   235 downloads

Edited by Chewie, 25 May 2012 - 01:41 AM.

[Stratos]

Unfortunately I'm completely germ-a-phobic and won't go outside unless I have at least three layers on. I hate summer and work.

I don't see the connection with germs and layers?


I'd really rather keep my stabby on although if it was unbearably hot I suppose I'd consider wearing a tac vest (if I had one).

[HerrComm]

The underground is stifling in this weather, even with the advent of the wicking tops (which are about as much use as breasts on a kipper). Not fun at all! A colleague and I walked between stations yesterday rather than take the underground.

Edited by HerrComm, 25 May 2012 - 01:43 AM.

[Transducer09]

At my cadets we wear same navy blue uniform as CO19/Dog unit (same material as regs shirts/trousers I believe) and I absolutely hate May-August, it seems the uniform traps in heat and you can start to feel it as soon as you button the shirt up. I feel sorry for officers having to go out with PPE and hat!

[Obsidian_Eclipse]

Sweat loads and drink loads of water..

As a special consession for hot weather we dont have to wear our hi-vis jackets or stab vests. Personally though, I can still be stabbed when its sunny so still wear it (just as I can be knocked off my motorbike so still wear leathers!). You can get use to it but its hard when the weather flips from cold and grey to bright and hot like it has this time!

[David]

How do we cope? Simply get on with it.

Sure, we have stabbies now, but come on, how on earth did we ever police in the past? We even have wicking shirts, and not stiff, collared blue shirts and tunics.

This isn't the first period of hot weather we've ever had you know and we've coped in the past.

[Jorvic]

_{Tend to just get on with it, have to say I wish the MET had not giving me the heavy weather trousers as my only allocation.}

[Waddle]

I haven't found it to be an issue really, definitely wouldn't go out without my stabbie either!

[Merlin820]

The underground is stifling in this weather, even with the advent of the wicking tops (which are about as much use as breasts on a kipper). Not fun at all! A colleague and I walked between stations yesterday rather than take the underground.

Walking around on the beat, out in the sunshine, you should feel lucky and stop moaning about it. Being in the underground however is a completely different story and worth moaning about. I was stuck for 45 minutes on a Central line train that had lost power and it was horrendous. People passing out, having panic attacks, not nice. If you're out in the sun, whatever you're wearing, be thankful because some of us stuck behind a desk for the rest of the day!

[BigCopSmallTown]

Just put the AC on in the Beemer!?

[Seandesy1]

It wasn't too bad for me, white shirt and tie with combats, no need for a stab vest but the only downside being the awful tan line across my forehead.....

Edited by Seandesy1, 25 May 2012 - 09:16 AM.

[General Purpose]

Hmmm some varied opinions. I did enjoy the weather and foot patrol, just not with a heavy stabvest and a custodian. Only a few more days to Sunday I guess .

[SC Ben]

I just wear my belt and stabbie goes in the back of the car Still hot but what can you do!

[cu8406]

Drink plenty of water, keep the fitness levels up, and remind yourself that the lads and lasses in Afghan are suffering 10oC higher temperatures whilst wearing OSPREY body armour whilst carrying their own body weight in kit! And getting shot at too!

[TroyTempest]

_{Tend to just get on with it, have to say I wish the MET had not giving me the heavy weather trousers as my only allocation.}

What heavy weather trousers? There are standard uniform trousers and tunic trousers. Unless you have some of the new ones.

[Police Constable 1]

Walking around on the beat, out in the sunshine, you should feel lucky and stop moaning about it. Being in the underground however is a completely different story and worth moaning about. I was stuck for 45 minutes on a Central line train that had lost power and it was horrendous. People passing out, having panic attacks, not nice. If you're out in the sun, whatever you're wearing, be thankful because some of us stuck behind a desk for the rest of the day!

Out of interest, have you seen the topic on BTP Paramedics on the underground? currently running in the News section:)

Anyway as David said, its not the first bit of hot weather, so people just get on with it, use common sense, carry a bottle of water if your on foot patrol or just open the car windows if your mobile

[Cuddles]

Have a nice, cool, refreshing glass of man up!

On a serious note, keep topped up with water and drop into shops and things like that for a chat as they'll be nice and shaded and some will have air con too. Brew stops come into their own in weather like this.

[Shogy1]

I usually get the little rehydration sachets that you mix with water and take one of them if I'm out in the sun all day. Dont taste great but they do the trick.

Certainly did yesterday out on the sun doing traffic stops for 12 hrs in long sleeve shirt, Body armour and Hi vis jacket...

[SCtechy]

I'm going to be a bit naughty this evening and wear some black karrimor cargo trousers while on duty. They look exactly like force issue trousers but are sooooo much cooler!

[spidey]

I think everybody will appreciate this photograph for a bit of light relief - it was taken in 1911 when the UK had a heatwave reaching 36 degrees celcius.



It was decided that wicker-custodians would be issued but that was the only change in the uniform. Tunics were still compulsory!

Edited by spidey, 25 May 2012 - 01:20 PM.

[SEADOG]

we don't get a choice Stabbies stay on and you deal with it lol I guess the wicking tops work brilliant if it wasn't for the stabbie lol

Just have to keep topped up with Water and find some tactical shade on my beat

Edited by SEADOG, 25 May 2012 - 01:22 PM.