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NEW LOOK, SAME COMMITMENT COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY FOR VICTORIA POLICE AS IT LAUNCHED ITS DARK BLUE UNIFORM ON 5 DECEMBER.
EDITORIAL ANTHONY LONCARIC PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW HENSHAW
DARK BLUE .01 The uniform will be rolled out to police from May.
www.police.vic.gov.au/policelife
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dark blue colour will make police and Protective Services Officers in Victoria look more professional when the new uniform rolls out next year. For the first time in more than 30 years, the uniform has been changed to meet the needs of modern day police. The uniform has more pockets on the shirts and pants, is made
of durable material which does not need to be dry cleaned and is more breathable in hot weather. It is also a simple design that can be used across all areas of Victoria Police. The light blue uniform could be worn in many combinations, leading to less consistency in appearance for police across the organisation and some specialist units like the Water Police and Dog Squad were already dressed in dark blue clothing. Police from across the organisation have had input into the uniform redesign from start to finish. Feedback from members highlighted the need for the garments to be more practical, with female members saying the light blue shirts were too short and did not have pockets. In May and June, 150 police and Protective Services Officers took part in a four-week-long trial of uniforms created by several short-listed suppliers. The design was largely influenced by the attire worn by
police working in the Oxfordshire and Northumberland counties in England. The Uniform Appearance and Advisory Committee’s Superintendent Deb Abbott said police in those counties had similar uniform constraints because they also wore an operational vest on top of their police clothing. “A lot of police jurisdictions are moving to a block colour and we consulted the police in Northern Territory and South Australia as they recently changed some aspects of their uniform,” she said. “We have gone for a non-gender specific fit, but it is tailored to the male and female form.” The uniform includes a new version of the peak cap based on a British police cap and is softer, reflects heat, is more breathable and comfortable to wear. The uniform will be rolled out to police across the state over 12 months from May 2013.
POLICELIFE SUMMER 2013
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