One of the practical questions many people have about joining the police is what they will be wearing and carrying on duty. The kit issued to officers has evolved significantly over the past two decades, and understanding what you'll be equipped with — and what you might need to source yourself — helps you prepare for the job practically as well as conceptually.
The Standard Response Uniform
The standard uniform for a response police constable in England and Wales consists of a navy or black tactical trousers with reinforced knees and multiple cargo pockets, a navy polo shirt or tactical shirt, a fleece or softshell jacket, and a high-visibility yellow or orange over-vest. Headgear includes the traditional custodian helmet for male officers in many forces (still worn for ceremonial and some operational purposes), a flat cap, or — increasingly — a baseball cap for day-to-day patrol. Footwear is the officer's own responsibility in most forces, within a defined specification that typically requires a black leather or synthetic leather boot with ankle support and a non-slip sole.
Body Armour
All front-line officers are issued with a Personal Protective Equipment vest, commonly called body armour or a stab vest. Modern police body armour is typically a covert or overt carrier that incorporates stab-resistant panels and, in many forces, ballistic protection. The carrier also holds various items of kit: radio, spare handcuff key, notebook, gloves, and other operational items. Body armour is personally fitted and is one of the most important pieces of kit you carry.
Personal Protective Equipment
Standard PPE issued to response officers includes: rigid handcuffs (Speedcuffs are the most common), an extendable baton (either ASP or equivalent), CS spray or PAVA incapacitant spray, nitrile gloves for scene preservation and hygiene, and a first aid pack. Officers are trained in the use of each of these items as part of their initial officer safety training and are required to recertify regularly.
Body-Worn Video
Body-worn video (BWV) is now standard across all forces in England and Wales. The camera is typically mounted on the front of the body armour carrier and must be activated before using force, when making an arrest, and in numerous other defined circumstances. BWV footage is central to complaint investigations, court proceedings, and use-of-force reviews. Officers are responsible for ensuring their camera is charged and operational at the start of each shift.
Taser
Taser (conducted energy device) is carried by a significant and growing proportion of front-line officers in England and Wales, following the rollout of Taser to all willing officers in many forces. Carrying Taser requires a dedicated training course and recertification. Not all forces have achieved universal Taser carriage, and in those forces it remains with designated officers. Taser is yellow to distinguish it from a firearm and is carried in a rigid holster on the non-dominant side.
Role-Specific Kit
Different roles carry different kit. Roads policing officers carry spike strips and specialist collision investigation equipment. Firearms officers carry either a sidearm or a long-barrelled weapon depending on their training and deployment. Public order officers wear a full complement of Level II protective equipment including helmet with visor, long shield or short shield, and flame-resistant oversuit. Dog handlers obviously work with their dogs. Marine and water operations units have their own specialist PPE. The list varies widely by specialism.
What You Provide Yourself
As noted above, footwear is typically the officer's own responsibility. Many officers also purchase their own additional items for comfort and practicality: better quality gloves, a personal torch (a good torch is underrated), a notebook of their preferred format, a pen holder, and various organisational clips and pouches for their kit. There is a significant market for police-specific equipment from manufacturers including Safariland, Maglite, and various tactical kit suppliers. Talk to serving officers about what they actually find useful before spending money on kit you don't need.
Keeping Kit Maintained
You are responsible for maintaining your issued kit. Body armour, batons, and cuffs must be kept serviceable. BWV batteries must be checked. Kit that is damaged or showing signs of wear should be reported and replaced through your force's stores process. Carrying defective kit is both a practical risk and a potential misconduct issue if it affects your ability to perform your duties safely.