General Accoutrements Vest: Solution or Problem?

But what options are there?

NSW Police has tried issuing a different type of belt, to see if that would fix the problem. For some people it has. But then you have the silly issue of the belt being used operationally is not the belt members are allowed to use when they undertake their OSTT / Firearms re-qualifications. Just another example of idiots running things.....but let's not go there.

Almost all Australian Police organisations have "trialled" an accoutrement vest for GD's members. Some of these trials saw operational members wearing the vests on duty and providing feedback. Other trial versions, and the only ones I have personally seen, were a case of the vest sitting in the office of a non-operational member, and entire decisions being based on that office environment.

Apparently the general consensus was that the vest was too "tactical" or "military" in appearance, and we all know how adverse our respective Police Managers are regarding our Police being seen as anything other than blue Care Bears. The fact that very similar vests are being worn happily by Ambulance Officers seems to be ignored by Police Management.

Somehow, another vest was sourced, and trialled. The "General Accoutrement Vest" (GAV) is made by an Australian company, Personal Protective Clothing, (PPC), in Victoria. Again, this vest has been "trialled" by operational Police, and I have yet to hear one Officer who has trialled it saying that they would wear it. In fact, the only comments I have received from testing Officers is that they refused to wear it after one day due to the fact that it was either too hot to wear, or it looked utterly ridiculous.

100% Polyester PVC Zipper Reflective Tape Vest