THIS is the new uniform police officers in Worcestershire will be wearing under their body armour from next month.

It is the first time in 40 years that West Mercia Constabulary has changed its uniform. Officers on the beat will be stepping out in new specially designed black shirts, replacing the more traditional white shirt and tie.

The shirts are made from a breathable, lightweight fabric designed to be worn under body armour. Police officers and special constables will wear black shirts, while community support officers will wear dark blue.

The new shirt will only be worn when an officer is wearing body armour. When officers are not involved with front line duties they will continue to wear the traditional white shirt and black tie.

Deputy chief constable Ian Arundale said: "After body armour was introduced to protect police and community support officers out on patrol it became apparent that the traditional white shirt and clip-on-tie was no longer a suitable uniform for front line officers.

"In order to address this problem West Mercia's Health and Safety Forum organised a trial to test out a variety of alternative uniform shirts.

The trial involved about 20 officers from across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire, with each officer feeding back their opinions and the responses they had received from colleagues and members of the public."

West Mercia Constabulary is the first force in England to introduce the new shirts.

Police officers in north Worcestershire will start wearing them from Monday, June 11, with officers in Herefordshire and south Worcestershire following suit on Monday, June 25.

Community support officers will start wearing their new shirts in July.

SEE TODAY'S OPINION