It's hats off for the British bobby's helmet

THE traditional custodian helmet for bobbies on the beat looks set to stay, as chief officers meet next week to agree on the future of English and Welsh police uniform.

Despite some forces opting for baseball caps for their frontline officers, and a push for cops in all forces to look the same, the ACPO lead on police uniform told Police Review this week that the British bobby's helmet is still to be issued to officers in forces that want it.

Vince Hislop said chief officers are meeting next Friday (22 January) to decide on a definitive list of uniform items to procure nationally and therefore save money. Last year's policing White Paper called for a 'standard national uniform' by 2012.

However, Mr Hislop, also director of corporate services at Bedfordshire Police, said he sees there being a 'mix and match approach' to police uniform in the future and added: 'I do not see that there will be a single uniform.'