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[Fedster + 1,307]

 

 

Promotional images accompanied the introduction of the new uniform

Date - 15th November 2018
By - Ian Weinfass - Police Oracle

14 Comments

 

A force which introduced baseball caps last year for cost and comfort, is to bring back custodian helmets.

Northamptonshire Police moved away from the traditional headgear in May 2017. A statement at the time outlined a number of apparent advantages including equalising safety standards between men and women and removing recruitment barriers for the non-binary transgender community.

Today Chief Constable Nick Adderley, who took over at the force in the summer, announced on Twitter that the uniform will change again.

He said: “As part of my new approach to policing across Northamptonshire Police I have taken the decision to phase out the baseball caps worn by officers.

“I do not believe that the caps portray the right image of the force and the public support this view. More to follow.”

He added: “Further to the phasing out of baseball caps, frontline officers will no longer be issued with yellow tac vests.

“All officers will be issued with black tac vests as well as fluorescent over-clothing where required.”

Updated 4.15pm: But in a further statement later this afternoon, the chief announced that bump caps will continue to be worn by response and specialist officers after all - for safety reasons.

He said: "Response officers, and specialist teams – those that face hazardous conditions on a daily basis – will continue to wear the bump cap in their daily role, and wear more traditional headgear when they conduct another role or when attending meetings, training etc.

"All officers have had the option of choosing their headgear from the options available to them, and this will always be balanced against the role they perform.

"Having listened to the views of my officers and staff, and those of the public of Northamptonshire, I am happy that we have found a middle way."

The force has not responded to questions about its previous statement that the hats would help remove barriers for transgender and non-binary recruits.

 

View On Poice Oracle

Edited November 15, 2018 by Fedster
updated

[Radman + 2,163]

Good.

The caps look awful. 

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

I could not agree more. With smartness comes respect so we could do away with the boiler suits as well. Asa Sergeant said to my wife only last week, when she voiced the same opinion,  they scruffy, smelly are falling about at the seams.

[Hyphen + 693]

No need for the caps really anyway. I like my force, we have a custodian for NTE/football and that type of thing.. The rest of the time in response we have no hat at all. We don’t get a flat cap or anything like that.

This whole U turn just makes the force look silly frankly.

I have to say though, I support the decision 100% regarding phasing out yellow vests. They are the stupidest thing that forces introduced and I don’t know why so many forces persevere with them. 

They make cops look completely scruffy. They get dirty within a couple of shifts and show up every mark. Even when clean they don’t portray a smart image. Black vests should be the standard and from a safety perspective are much more common sense. Hopefully other forces take notice.

[Radman + 2,163]

No need for the caps really anyway. I like my force, we have a custodian for NTE/football and that type of thing.. The rest of the time in response we have no hat at all. We don’t get a flat cap or anything like that.
This whole U turn just makes the force look silly frankly.
I have to say though, I support the decision 100% regarding phasing out yellow vests. They are the stupidest thing that forces introduced and I don’t know why so many forces persevere with them. 
They make cops look completely scruffy. They get dirty within a couple of shifts and show up every mark. Even when clean they don’t portray a smart image. Black vests should be the standard and from a safety perspective are much more common sense. Hopefully other forces take notice.

Got to admit I like the look of black vests alot smarter and does look respectable but in BTP atleast we wont to back to them due to the track safety requirement. I read a report a few years ago that stated high-visibility jackets is now so prevalent within society we don't even notice it any more out on the streets, we've effectively made it redundant due to overuse!

Why we can't have light weight vests that fit in a pocket or something I don't know but there we are... I'll continue to dress like a bumble bee... [emoji23][emoji23]

I like the Custodian for beats (I don't see a reason why it isn't issued to female officers aswell along with the flat cap but there we are) and would hate to see BTP do away with it, infact I would likely still wear mine anyway even if they did get rid for station patrols.

[Beaker 817]

I like the bump caps. Saved my head before now. Flat cap I would have been issued previously admittedly looks smarter, but it doesn't offer any protection. As a plus point it also keeps the rain off my glasses properly.

[ParochialYokal 1,119]

I never was a fan of wearing head gear but a ‘bobby on the beat’ should always be wearing a custodian.

 

A baseball cap look more like what someone whom works in the service industry wears. If police officers are to be considered professionals whom are qualified to level 6 / degree level, then giving them the attire of someone whom is in a job that doesn’t even require 5 GCSEs (e.g. McDonalds) undermines the professional image.

 

Whereas, the problem with head gear that resembles cycle or motorcycle helmets is that it perhaps looks a tad too paramilitary. I think that the images that you see of police or soldiers in South East Asia wearing such headgear looks smart but it probably isn’t consistent with our policing model.

 

There is a broader issue that relates to gender equality and I see no reason why women should not be able to choose to wear Custodians or flat caps.

 

 

 

[Growley + 2,436]

Oh good, they're bringing back rubbish outdated equipment..

That'll go well with their black t shirts.

[Fedster + 1,307]

*Article has been updated

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

Growley's,  perhaps he wants then to look smart instead of slovenly. Females had no problems with the re enforced Bowler type head wear.

[Growley + 2,436]

so we could do away with the boiler suits as well.

What boiler suits are you referring to?
The times I've worn them, they've been for an operational reason, which is far more important than smartness.

[Hyphen + 693]

3 minutes ago, Growley said:

 

 

What boiler suits are you referring to?
The times I've worn them, they've been for an operational reason, which is far more important than smartness.

 

@Zulu 22what do you propose as an alternative? They’re generally worn for public order/searches and specialist deployments. Should the cops trade them in for an old fashioned heavy tunic? 

[Zulu 22 + 4,571]

The General public look on the black shirts and trousers as Boiler Suits, which is why my wife described them as such. I have worn the Boiler Suit for certain operational purposes when they can be justified, but, the present uniforms are a joke which never look smart in any way. I always found the Custodian more comfortable to wear than flat caps or baseball hats.

If you are happy being scruffy the, do not join Northants.

[CountyCop + 178]

Has been in the pipeline for some time the frontline were not happy with the bump caps and refused to wear them. The new chief has listened and we are going back to the traditional headwear, along with black tac vests and hardwearing trousers not the combats. 

The logic for introducing them was flawed and after a civil dispute was raised by members of our force I believe the chief hastened the plan to ditch the hats and the hi vis. All in all big boost for moral for most of us in the force.

[Growley + 2,436]

[mention=3661]Zulu 22[/mention]what do you propose as an alternative? They’re generally worn for public order/searches and specialist deployments. Should the cops trade them in for an old fashioned heavy tunic? 

I'll take a hard-wearing set of overalls with padded knees over a set of woollen trousers any day.

I used to wear them regularly on my old OCU, because it was important to be available for pan London call outs, and they can easily be switched for Public order or CBRN kit without getting completely undressed in the street.