New MET uniforms, Will it change that much? Options

[Braggdaddy]

New concepts for police uniforms
The students' designs will influence the new uniform



Students from the London College of Fashion are to find out which of their designs will be chosen to shape a new uniform for the Metropolitan Police.

The force will select winning entries from eight finalists on Monday.

It is hoped that the ideas and concepts presented by the students will give an idea of how young Londoners perceive the image of the service.

The force has been working with the students over the last few months to develop "practical" concepts.

It has been encouraging students to develop concepts which are workable and practical, yet present a modern image for the force in the lead up to 2012.

The winning concepts and designs will be fed into a wider uniform review that the Met is currently undertaking. The students presented their initial ideas to Met officers in January.

Source - BBC


For the run up to 2012... Why am I seeing the MET in light blue shell suits and baseball caps?

[McFlurry]

I know the Met seem to have escaped the whole Hi-Viz on foot patrol thing but I thought the idea was that all forces looked similar? Why are just the Met looking to move away from either the traditional uniform or the new pretty much universally adopted (or at least soon to be by most) of black polo's?

[Fry]

I'm amazed. A whole BBC news report without a single picture of an armed police officer.

[Braggdaddy]

I'm amazed. A whole BBC news report without a single picture of an armed police officer.

I was going to mention that but I thought it would be fun to see how long it took for someone else to notice it... Well done that man!

[Dave SYP]

If the Fashion College do come up with something groovy you can bet all the other forces will want it.

[Hotlush]

If the Fashion College do come up with something groovy you can bet all the other forces will want it.

Why? We've managed to avoid met-branding everything so far.
In fact if there were any force to copy it'd probably be the gucci kit of Essex, or the north wales for its functionality. The only thing off the top of my head I'd take from the met is that PCs don't have a workload as such.

[Dave SYP]

Why? We've managed to avoid met-branding everything so far.
In fact if there were any force to copy it'd probably be the gucci kit of Essex, or the north wales for its functionality. The only thing off the top of my head I'd take from the met is that PCs don't have a workload as such.

Met-specific .....I was thinking about WHITE shirts (remember blue PC's shirts?). Oh, I don't think it will be functional if you are asking a fashion college to make it! I wouldn't know about Met PC's workload really. - naughty!!!

[bensonby]

whats wrong with the uniform as it is? I quite like it...




though most of my fellow officers wear it scruffily - not nearly as suave as me

This post has been edited by bensonby: Apr 28 2008, 3:44 PM

[NJR]

Cape wins police uniform contest

The students modelled their winning designs for senior officers

An innovative police cape based on those worn by officers in Victorian times has proved a winning design in a competition to help shape new uniforms.

London College of Fashion students were asked to come up with designs as part of a review by the Metropolitan (Met) Police into men and women's uniforms.

The winning women's design included trousers that can be adjusted to be worn high or low on the hip.

Experts will now consider whether the designs can go into production.

Eight designs were shortlisted in the competition and paraded before senior officers on Monday.

Most of the ideas focused on improving fine details of uniforms such as accessories, pockets, collars, ties and belts. I would like to think we will see a London police officer wearing our cape

Alice Burkitt, contest winner

Alice Burkitt, 20, whose team of five won the men's competition, said: "I would like to think we will see a London police officer wearing our cape.

"It would be great if that worked."

They used waterproof yellow fluorescent fabric and reflective material to make the cape fit for the 21st Century.

Dep Ass Com Steve Roberts said: "It is an idea brought back to life. It's something we can see officers wearing."

Women's winner Jude Cunningham, 21, said many officers complained about uncomfortable uniforms to her.

She said: "I spoke to a lot of women police officers who wanted lower waists that would be more comfortable."

The Met has been working with the students over the last few months to develop "practical" concepts which could be fed into the uniform review.

A basic police uniform contains 28 different items and the review of all 2,000 pieces of Met uniform is expected to continue until September.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7370591.stm

[bensonby]

a cape?!

Whatever next!

[Dan_05]

Oh dear....

[Enzo600]

Oh dear....

a cape.................. (speachless)


Why are they trying to reinvent the wheel. I like the uniform we have now in terms of design and colour (bar practicality). If your going to change it change to black polos and combats and a stabbie which can hold your kit.

[!Spc_Plod!]

That cape looks absolutely hideous!!

I would like to think we will see London police officers wearing our cape.

Dream on!!

[alpha charlie]

We could, of course, be really, really radical and ask police officers what they need? Sorry, what am I thinking ...

[r_buxton]

Its not a cape, its a MetCape....

[Todd]

We could, of course, be really, really radical and ask police officers what they need? Sorry, what am I thinking ...

It takes the fun our of beurocracy if they ask you what you need.



Anyways, since when was the police uniform supposed to be a fashion statement? And the cape.... just no!

[1638]

It reminds me off, Bat women ner ner ner bat women.





Err daft question

What wrong with the uniform what they are wearing now?

[Todd]

apparently its not vigalantee enough, hence the cape and replacment of the asp with Batarangs

[2Stroke]

But really a cape, could you imagine trying to restrain a tussle on a friday night wearing a cape?

[Hotlush]

Thieving gets; PS posted an april fool about the hiv vis cape TVP were going to be issuing years ago...

[DGP]

Why do the MET need to get fashion students in when a national uniform- and several close variations- have been around for 7 years? Why do they need to be different?

Its not a cape, its a MetCape....

Your conjuring up images of my head to McDonalds . . .

I wonder if that are going to bring out a new McMET-Hat too?

[Todd]

Thieving gets; PS posted an april fool about the hiv vis cape TVP were going to be issuing years ago...

the hiv cape?

[jazz_fan9]

Surely if you were to have a cape you'd want it to be longer; given that it looks waterproof it'd just make your legs wet. I think you'd also want it open fronted (like the old style one) so that you could draw your appointments if needed. At least there'd be room inside to put all your paperwork. One of my complaints at the moment regarding my combat trousers is that the pocket is about 3cm too short to properly accomodate a stop and search form.

[HampshireSam]

It just looks absolutley awful. Why let a fashion college design it - I'm sure lots of people were weary of this in the first place; and their wearyness can be justified in this. I think the met uniform is really quite smart....if it aint broke don't fix it.

[jazz_fan9]

It would also silence all those who say that police in high vis "can't be determined from street cleaners, builders and just about anybody working in the street". Especially if they used some of the blue high vis as per the recent discussion in GD.