Back to Basics: is your body armour causing health issues?

24 June 2021

The secretary of Humberside Police Federation has warned that wearing body armour for long shifts could contribute to officer injuries.

Rob Grunner says wearing full kit in office seating or in police cars could be putting members’ at risk of back, neck and shoulder problems.

His comments come as the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) launches its Back to Basics awareness drive.

Coinciding with World Wellbeing Week, the campaign aims to highlight the effects of wearing body armour for long shifts over a period of time could have on the body. It also aims to educate officers about prevention and the help available.

Rob said: “Body armour is vital to officers but the problem is wearing it when it’s not needed.

“It’s a lot of weight, which the body is not built to carry for long periods, and our police vehicles and office seating are not designed to be sat in by officers in armour and full kit.

“This could be contributing to health issues such as back, shoulder or neck problems.

“So we’re encouraging members to go back to basics and to take their armour off when it’s not needed, such as when you’re in the car or back at the station.”

Research by a working group, set up by the Federation’s Wellbeing Sub-Committee to examine the issues, found problems not only with the weight of the plates used, but also the weight of what officers carry such as mobile units and kit.

The group established that officers were being referred to treatment centres with back, shoulder and neck pain, which could be caused by wearing body armour.

Steve Hartshorn, the PFEW National Board lead for operational policing, writing in a blog for World Wellbeing Week, said: “To help draw attention to these issues, with the help of the specialist centres we’re kickstarting an awareness drive called Back to Basics, focusing on the damage that body armour can potentially cause to the wearer if worn excessively and ways to prevent harm.

“It really is about going back to basics and looking at what simple tweaks you can make at home or at work to help your back, neck, and shoulders.”

He added: “Over the next few months, we will be working with experts from Flint House, the Police Treatment Centres (Harrogate and Auchterarder) and the North-West Police Benevolent Fund to share ways to help ease the strain on your muscles and skeleton.

“They have some useful guides and videos that can help you build core strength and complement any existing training plans. We will also be working with forces to remind them of their responsibility to look after officers’ welfare and encourage good practice around body armour care, storage and checks after being damaged.”

Find out more about the Back to Basics campaign.