Police disquiet over certain hi-viz vest designs

Increasing numbers of riders are wearing high-visibility vests on the road, but precisely about designs have got caused disquiet alongside senior constabulary inward Britain.

The British Horse Society received a missive of the alphabet before this yr from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) voicing concerns over the similarities of precisely about vests to those worn past times mounted officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Rod Hansen, the association’s spokesman on mounted policing policing, said: “Over recent months a let on of examples of high visibility equine clothe have got been brought to my attention.

“These articles have got caused line concern to the constabulary on the grounds that individuals wearing them are probable to move false for beingness a constabulary officeholder due to the pattern closely resembling constabulary uniform.”

Hansen said he sought advice on the legality of the designs, which he said identified 3 original characteristics of constabulary high-visibility uniform: POLICE printed equally a contrasting block of letters prominently displayed to the nurture and/or front, xanthous colouring, too chequered banding.

“The determination of these inquiries is that whatever item of article of apparel that has been manufactured to jibe these characteristics of constabulary uniform is at lead a opportunity of contravening legislation, namely Section xc Police Act 1996.”

Further, whatever wording similar inward appearance to POLICE, fifty-fifty if is spelt differently, would operate out the wearer at lead a opportunity of breaching the law, especially if the other characteristics are present, Hansen said.

Hansen’s reference to similar wording appeared to move inward reference to 2 vests, ane marketed with the discussion POLITE on the back, too the other with the discussion PLEASE – both component subdivision of messages urging motorists to move careful.

The Equus caballus social club contacted 2 manufacturers for their response, with V-Bandz proverb it had withdrawn all its chequered products from sale inward early on January, afterward it received revised guidelines from the police.

It said it would move replacing all its ‘PLEASE’ waistcoats too offering to ameliorate Equus caballus apparel.

“We create non desire riders to buy the farm on to purpose their V-Bandz chequered products equally the clarification has shown they have got the potential to contravene the act,” V-Bandz spokeswoman Fiona Kennedy said.

Nicola Fletcher, the managing manager of Equisafey, which markets the POLITE range, said the vest was alone manufactured afterward the ACPO’s Commander Robert Broadhurst, too thus spokesman for the mounted police, commented: “Provided at that topographic point is no deliberate elbow grease to impersonate Police at that topographic point is really piddling nosotros tin create other than mayhap inquire them to ensure the discussion looks to a greater extent than similar polite than police. Assuming they have got no items of constabulary uniform it is unlikely Earth volition fault them for us, but if they create it volition precisely move precisely about other High Visibility Patrol which should add together to the reassurance picture.”

Fletcher said: “The law regarding this is thus ambiguous equally to move confusing, otherwise the novel ACPO Pb for the mounted constabulary would non have got had to translate the law too resultant ‘new’ guidelines, which are at best unclear too mayhap fifty-fifty to a greater extent than confusing than ever.

“The implementation of the ‘new’ guidelines is likewise quite irresponsible too could sure drive riders to withdraw their high-visibilty article of apparel if approached past times an officeholder too nosotros are likewise completely astounded past times it.

“We are non aware of a unmarried criminal human activeness of intent to impersonate a Police Officer inward the past times 3 years of selling the POLITE range,” she said.

“We categorically create non recommend y'all withdraw your hi-visibility products whilst on a world highway.”

The Equus caballus social club offered no comment or advice, adding: “We precisely wishing to inform our members too the full general world of the situation.”

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