ABSTRACT
More than 18,000 assaults on police officers were recorded during 1993 leading to injury (Brown, 1994). Concern about the risk of assault on officers whilst performing their duties has increased since then. The application of Health and Safety legislation to the Police Service in 1998 highlighted the issue to a greater extent and enhanced attention paid to the protection afforded officers on routine patrol by their uniform and equipment (see Hooper, 1999 and 2000), in contrast to the special riot provision.
