BackCare Awareness Week: body armour advice

6 October 2021

This week is BackCare Awareness Week and the Federation is using this initiative as an opportunity to remind members of the need to be aware of possibly wearing their body armour for too long.

The reminder follows the Federation’s own Back to Basics campaign launched earlier this year which highlighted ways officers could minimise the impact of wearing body armour on their back and shoulders.

Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, said: “For something officers wear so often, we don’t really think about the impact body armour can have on their backs and shoulders. Body armour became mandatory in the late 90s so some members have now been wearing body armour daily for more than 20 years.

“Naturally, this leads to back and shoulder problems. What we need is for forces to regularly check, maintain and fit body armour so this vital piece of equipment can be used safely by all members.”

As part of the National Body Armour Working Group, the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) works closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other policing organisations such as the Home Office and force health and safety leads. However, provision can vary across forces.

National Board member Steve Hartshorn said: “We have been 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.

“We are also 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 following damage.

“As a former firearms officer, I personally know the importance of properly storing body armour correctly. Colleagues need the correct storage for their armour, so they can hang this correctly and be ready to be used for the next shift.”

FEW wellbeing lead Belinda Goodwin added: “We need to get the word out to colleagues that, although body armour is mandatory, when it’s safe to do they should take it off. Far too many of our colleagues keep it on when they enter a station to do a crime report, then three hours later realise they still have it on.

“Some members also carry unnecessary items on the cover of their body armour which adds to the weight on their back, necks and shoulders. We are trying to encourage these individuals to remove items they don’t need.”

To read more about proper back care, visit backcare.org.uk