5 minute read
Armour for Security Personnel
Armour for Security Personnel
By: Thomas Bowman
Security Personnel work in very demanding roles, often with challenging circumstances that require them to be completely prepared and aware. During their work, a Close Protection Operative (CPO) has to be aware of their surroundings.
However, during their preparation, they must also be mindful of the equipment they will need. This awareness may extend to body armour, depending on the situation. If it does, CPOs must be aware of the different options available to them and how they can keep them safe in different situations.
Ballistic Protection
While there are a number of different models and styles of body armour available, the first thing to understand is the protection it can provide. Body armour is available at different levels of protection, depending on the size, strength, and speed of the attack it can protect against. The most common image of body armour is of a Kevlar vest, which is lightweight and flexible. This is known as ‘soft armour.’
All armour is tested and graded according to the level of threat it is capable of stopping. The highest level of soft armour available is NIJ Level IIIa, which is capable of protecting against the vast majority of handgun ammunition, including .44 Magnums, for example. The NIJ, or National Institute of Justice, is widely recognised as being the world leader in ballistics testing and is responsible for the standardisation of body armour testing.
Ballistic protection is important for all CPOs to consider, particularly those working in hostile environments where there is a risk of firearms. Most vests come with ballistic protection as standard, keeping you safe against firearms even if it is not a major threat. We are fortunate in the UK to have a very low rate of gun crime, and yet it is important for CPOs to be aware of ballistic protection.
Edged and Spiked Protection
Of course, for many CPOs, a bulletproof vest will simply not be needed. In the UK, the threat from firearms is low, but CPOs will know that attacks, violence, and weaponry are still very present and need to be addressed. Weapons like knives and needles may seem less threatening than a gun but are just as deadly, and far more accessible.
It is not common knowledge that a bullet proof vest cannot protect you against spiked and edged weapons. This is because the soft fabrics used in a bullet proof vest, although incredibly strong, will be cut or bypassed by edged or spiked weapons. Stab and Spike vests will still use materials like Kevlar in order to absorb the impact of an attack and help mitigate the damage, but they will also use chainmail and/or plastic laminate to provide a tough surface to protect the wearer.
This will be of particular importance to those working in Close Protection, who may find themselves in close contact with members of the public and large crowds. Working as the ‘bodyguard’ for a public figure, for example, will put the CPO in close proximity with people who could easily cause otherwise fatal damage. A stab and spike proof vest will help negate this threat and keep you protected.
Styles of Body Armour
The additional materials used in a stab or spike proof vest will naturally increase the weight and thickness of a vest, and for some, this is a good reason to have lower levels of protection. However, the protective materials used in body armour are lighter and thinner than ever before, and so even at high levels of protection, a vest can be worn discreetly.
This will be of particular benefit to those working in Close Protection, who require discreet protection. Covert vests are designed to be worn underneath clothing, and so are very useful for these situations. These vests are often thinner and slightly lighter than overt vests but are still available at the same levels of protection. Some also come with additional materials that help control the temperature of the wearer.
Of course, some CPOs will have no need for discreet protection, and may actually benefit from body armour that helps them display their authority. A Security Operative (SO) working in Site Security, for example, will want to show their authority to the general public and can make use of an overt vest. These vests are worn over clothing and can form part of a uniform. Most overt vests are available with durable, weather-resistant covers, high-visibility strips, and even logos and insignia. This helps make an overt vest a useful part of a SOs uniform and can help deter any potential attackers.
For those working in extremely high-risk situations, a covert vest is simply unnecessary, and a simple overt vest may not be sufficient. Tactical armour is the only option when working in active warzones, perhaps guarding oil and gas supplies. These vests are naturally overt in nature but come with additional protection for the head, neck, throat, upper arm, and groin. Furthermore, they often come with rigid plates that are capable of stopping even armour-piercing ammunition.
As we have seen, there are numerous options available to SOs, and all of them have their own advantages and disadvantages; tactical armour is far too bulky and cumbersome for Close Protection, and a covert vest provides no tactical advantage to those working in Site Protection. Whatever your choice in body armour is, it has to reflect your own preparation and experience and has to be suited for the environments you are working and the threats you will face.
Thomas Bowman has many years of experience in the defence industry and is currently the resident expert writer for Safeguard Clothing, who provide a range of body armor, stab proof vests and other levels of protective clothing.
