Personal Protective Equipment
[ch 3: page 39]A UNISON health and safety officer for Essex Police reported that police community support officers (PCSOs) are among the staff that can be affected by abuse and assault. They are taught conflict avoidance skills, rather than defensive skills, and are provided with body armour to protect the torso. They are also being issued with body-worn video cameras.
A year-long study of almost 2,000 police officers across UK and US forces published in September 2016 found that the introduction of wearable cameras led to a 93% drop in complaints made against police by the public. Researchers say the study, led by the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology, suggests the cameras result in behavioural changes that ‘cool down’ potentially volatile encounters.