Police equipment and technology
Protective equipment standards
We develop and publish standards for a range of protective equipment for the police.
We advise police forces and the government on protective equipment for police use, ensuring that officers have the equipment they need to protect themselves and the public.
Establishing standards
We carry out exacting tests to establish the standard manufacturers of equipment must meet to be able to be included in our database as approved.
The standards are all based on actual threats faced by the police, and are agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Operational Requirement. The standards include:
- body armour - ballistic resistant and knife and spike resistant
- portable ballistic protection
- slash resistance
- public order helmets
The standards, produced in collaberation with ACPO and the Police Federation, ensure that forces are able to select equipment that meets their operational requirements.
Police protective equipment database
We produce a searchable database of police protective equipment that meets our standards.
Testing the equipment
Equipment is tested against our standards at test houses in the UK, Germany and America:
UK - Engineering Systems Department, Cranfield University
Royal Military College of Science
Shrivenham, Swindon
Wiltshire
England
SN6 8LA
Tel: +44 (01793) 785330
Germany - Beschussamt Mellrichstadt
Lohstrasse 5
Mellrichstadt
Deutschland
D-97638
Tel: +49 (9776) 9889
USA - United States Test Laboratories
LLC.7447
West 33rd Street.
North Wichita.
Kansas
USA
67205
Tel: 001 316 832 1600
Manufacturers of protective equipment wishing to be included on our database need to have their products tested and passed at one of these test houses.
We are continuing to develop our work in this area and recently produced standards for limb and torso protection. A further new standard - for flame retardant overalls - will be produced shortly.
