Cops’ khakis too thick for summer

NEW DELHI: Cops across the country are set to shed their British-era khaki . After five years of research, Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design NID ) has come up with a new all-weather, visually appealing ‘smart uniform’ which will be standardised across all states, Union Territories and central paramilitary forces.Designed in collaboration with the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), nine prototypes of new uniforms have been developed, which include shirts, trousers, belts, berets (cap), insignia, shoes and jacket, apart from new rainwear and headgear for the law enforcers.A report in this regard is being shared with all state police forces and paramilitary forces so that they can choose and adopt from any of the nine prototypes.Taking into account climate conditions in different parts of the country, altitude, working conditions and nature of duties, experts and BPR&D officers arrived at the new designs.Inputs gathered from police officers in nine states and the general public show the present uniforms have many problems. One, the lack of uniformity across the country; the basic fit and shades change from policeman to policeman and state to state.The fabric of the shirts worn by cops is as thick as that of the trousers, making it inconvenient in hot weather. Moreover, there isn’t enough space to carry the required objects.The berets/caps worn by cops are smart but made of wool, causing headaches and hairfall, while helmets are too heavy to wear during law-and -order situations. The metal belts are too wide and poke the stomach when a cop bends.The uniforms are also devoid of compartments for cellphones, batons, keys etc, unlike those for police forces across the world. The biggest problem faced by police officers currently is their shoes. Those made of leather are said to be very uncomfortable for long duty hours.The uniforms have also been found to have poor visibility in the dark. Khaki is also the colour of choice for municipality staff, some private agencies, postmen, personnel of the fire department, etc, even though cops have long argued that it should be exclusive to them.Speaking to TOI, director general BPR&D, which helped design the new uniform, Meera Borwankar said, “There was lot of criticism of the khaki, and how its colour, fabric and pattern should be changed.The uniform worn by police till now wasn’t made for different climates, altitudes. NID and BPR&D spent a lot of time to find an alternative and an intensive report has been prepared.”The new uniform, designed with the aim to provide mobility and comfort, has shirts of a softer khaki shade (beige) that offer a smart and clean look and provide effective visibility for the insignia, nameplate, badge, medals, ribbons, and epaulettes on the shoulders.It also has ‘police’ inscribed on the back in two languages. The colour of the trousers has been changed to ‘earthy brown’, a departure from the age-old standard of a singlecoloured uniform.The designers felt that the uniforms worn by cops should be visually appealing, should have a fabric that provides comfort to policemen and thus helps them maintain efficiency, without eroding police authority.