As the sharp rise in killings in London and other towns in the UK continues to alarm residents and political leaders, police are in looking for ways to better equip security agents to deal with the wave in crime, writes body armour supplier Safeguard Clothing.
Because of strict gun-control laws, gun violence is not as common and widespread as it is in the United States. Instead, knife crime is largely fuelling the rise in London’s murder rate. Most of the city’s killings this year have been stabbing deaths. But because of strict gun-control laws, gun violence is not as common and widespread as it is in the United States. Instead, knife crime is largely fueling the rise in London’s murder rate. Most of the city’s killings this year have been stabbing deaths.
As pressure on the force to combat an ongoing crime crisis intensified in recent weeks, security managers are struggling with the cuts in funding to keep operatives safe while on duty. One way to ensure police officers’ safety is by updating their standard issued body armour to reflect the new threats they are facing.
As it’s getting easier to acquire semi-automatic and higher-calibre weapons, more and more police departments are opting for higher levels of protection. For general patrol duty a concealable, soft body armour vest in Level III will do the job. It provides the highest blunt trauma protection rating in soft body armour. The best for very high-risk situations to cover more of the uncommon or unusual threats. It can keep you safe from .44 Magnum Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point, 9 mm FMJ and lower level calibres .40 S&W Full Metal Jacket and .357 JSP.
In addition to providing greater protection, Level III body armour is lightweight and comfortable. This makes manoeuvring in it easy, especially when you have to advance quickly. Soft body armour can be easily concealed under your uniform or clothes, which is an added benefit. Covert carriers are favoured by security operatives and civilians in situations that call for protection without drawing attention to yourself. This allows you to move through large crowds of people without alerting them to the fact that you’re wearing a vest underneath your clothes.
Given that knife attacks and attacks with other sharp-edged and spiked weapons, you might want to consider body armour with combined protection. This will keep you safe against slashing attacks that will otherwise pierce the carrier. With the growing number of terrorist attacks, crime and random assaults in urban zones – investing in some quality protective equipment is essential to staying safe. You can choose between different styles, systems and levels to find the one that fits you best.
Ideally, security managers need to provide a combination of decent protection, comfortable fit and the option of concealability – these three factors will give security operatives the best chances of survival in any urban situation that may pose a threat to their health and safety.
