38 replies to this topic

[ksks]

What are people's thoughts on forces having different bits of uniform. I mean some are still white shirt and trousers, some combats and white shirt, black tops and trousers and others all black uniform!

Do you think forces should all be the same?

Personally I feel the black uniform is much better.

[DanHollands]

I think forces should be different, they don't need to all look the same, as long as you can tell they are Poilce..

Don't think this is quite the right section though..

[jvt1]

I think the Met uniform (when worn properly of course) looks pretty smart

[DS90]

I like the differences! everything's becoming more uniform (excuse the pun) since the 90's. I think Dorset still wear navy blue shirts?

[Shikari]

I like the differences! everything's becoming more uniform (excuse the pun) since the 90's. I think Dorset still wear navy blue shirts?

Is that the constabulary where the people killed in the landslide were found?

[Sceptre]

I think the Met uniform (when worn properly of course) looks pretty smart

I think you look like waiters in utility belts. Your body armour looks especially cheap, they've not even bothered to have any POLICE badges on it.

[BlueBand]

I do like our uniform tops, shirt & tie looked good but wasn't practical. Only thing I would like to change in relation to this is the quality of the tops.

[jp1208]

I think the black uniform does look better and is a lot more practical.

[Giraffe]

Not really a recruitment question, so I'll move this to GD. Personally I'm in favour of a national uniform for all forces, with the only exception being the retention of the local cap badges. There's too much variation and with the proliferation of some fairly waltish security firms and dodgy items for sale on e-bay, I think a national standard is long overdue. It would also mean more options for procurement and it would save money.

[ksks]

By going to a national uniform it would save money and in these tough economic times surely that makes sense?

Lets take Cheshire's uniform for example. Black wicking tops that have the force logo on each arm - nice touch rather than just the word POLICE. Black combats which are the same used by both GMP and Merseyside. The body armour is very good and also has the force logo on it and does say POLICE on it!

Now if every force got there uniform from the same supplier and just added there own force logo as above each force would look smart and everyone would know who the police actually were.

From TV programmes I do not like the MET's body armour - looks a little too shabby for my liking!

[Glynsmith1]

the initial cost of having a country wide uniform could prolong its appearance indefinitely. once its in i agree that it would be cheaper but as with everything at the moment people are only seeing the short term

[Killicksparker]

the initial cost of having a country wide uniform could prolong its appearance indefinitely. once its in i agree that it would be cheaper but as with everything at the moment people are only seeing the short term

Surely once it has been decided what the National Uniform will be (easier said than done) it could be rolled out on a replacement basis, issued to new starters, so eventually everyone will be in the same uniform (could take 30 years mind!)

[Chewie]

I think Dorset still wear navy blue shirts?

Still? We've only been wearing them for the last 3 years or so, before then we were on the white shirts/tie route that was pretty much standard throughout the other HO forces.

Is that the constabulary where the people killed in the landslide were found?

Yep.

[Corbs]

I think you look like waiters in utility belts. Your body armour looks especially cheap, they've not even bothered to have any POLICE badges on it.

By that logic, some forces look like handymen with body armour (black polo and combats is just as ubiqitous)

There is one on the front in big writing. It's usually fairly obvious someone's a police officer from most angles without the need for big stickers everywhere.

[Glynsmith1]

Surely once it has been decided what the National Uniform will be (easier said than done) it could be rolled out on a replacement basis, issued to new starters, so eventually everyone will be in the same uniform (could take 30 years mind!)

Surely once it has been decided what the National Uniform will be (easier said than done) it could be rolled out on a replacement basis, issued to new starters, so eventually everyone will be in the same uniform (could take 30 years mind!)

without a real problem with the current uniform(s) i cant see anyone really being to concerned about it

[BigCopSmallTown]

Single Uniform is a good idea - even better would be a national force - that would remove some layers of senior management and leave more money for front line policing!

[Sierra Golf]

The new Met Wicker shirts are simply awful

I cant sew, but i'd manage a better job then the inferior rubbish we've been given. my moobs just dont suit the cut!!

The trousers are definately better then the old navy slacks we had, but still nowhere near as good as our county counterparts!

a national uniform, bar the badges would make a lot of sense. it'd get rid of our procurement team!

I have to question why we are now forced to wear long sleeve shirts until September so we look corporate when our county friends drafted into London on mutual aid are walking around in polo shirts. I'm sure the guvnor knows best though,

[Chewie]

The new Met Wicker shirts are simply awful

I have to admit, they look very itchy...

[SiegeMaster]

Humberside has just started to replace its uniform again, we already had black wicking tops, with "Humberside Police" on the sleeves and combat trousers which are really good, they're comfortable, you can carry all your gear and as a bonus for me come in super giant size leg lengths.
Now we're getting new kit with pseudo-rank tabs on the sleeves and trousers without the leg pockets and they're just awful. the newer epaulette sliders don't fit on the shirts and everyone hates the trousers. Its getting ridiculous because everyone is doing their level best not to get the new kit and so the kit we've got is getting ratty from overuse, the trousers are turning grey and the shirts are getting bobbly from being rubbed by the stab vests.
For me the only good bit is that we still have our custodians, I really don't understand officers that don't like them, they're literally the only piece of kit we have (baton and pava excluded) that no-one else can get away with wearing.
Anyone can wear a flat-cap only bobbies wear custodians

[LosingGrip]

Not uniform strictly, but all forces having the same style warrant card could be better. I saw a Hants one recently and wouldn't have a clue if it was real or not.

[Corbs]

Not uniform strictly, but all forces having the same style warrant card could be better. I saw a Hants one recently and wouldn't have a clue if it was real or not.

I'm with you on this, I've seen all sorts, and apart from SOCA, Met and BTP I am clueless as to whether they're any good. Even met one officer who'd photocopied his so he could have one in his warrant card holder and one on a lanyard around his neck. Both looked awful. (he was sussex)

[MerseyLLB]

I'm with you on this, I've seen all sorts, and apart from SOCA, Met and BTP I am clueless as to whether they're any good. Even met one officer who'd photocopied his so he could have one in his warrant card holder and one on a lanyard around his neck. Both looked awful. (he was sussex)

SOCA have the COOLEST warrant card holder EVER!

Which was pretty much what I told a SOCA investigator at Cistody once....

[meldrewf]

SOCA have the COOLEST warrant card holder EVER!

I agree !!!

[Corbs]

Maybe they do when new, but the one's I've seen always look like they've been through the washingmachine a few times and a puddle or two...

[The sleeping Policeman]

I have not seen the SOCA but the City of London wallet and warrant card looks the dogs.