The Health & Safety Executive case studies, accessible on their comprehensive website, informs us of several incidents involving threats of violence, including use of knives, hammers, shotguns, bricks and more imaginative weapons such as large screen colour televisions.
“An exclusive study of statistics from 37 police forces reveals that, in just three months of this year, almost 5,500 serious crimes involving knives were committed - or one every 24 minutes, around the clock. The figures include 55 knife-related murders, more than 2,000 stabbings and almost 2,500 muggings at knifepoint… the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King’s College London produced a report showing that the number of muggings involving knives has more than doubled in two years from 25,500 in 2004/05 to 64,000 in the year to April 2007”. (The Mail on Sunday, 28th October 2007)
Due to these incidents, health and safety regulations, social change and the increase in anti social behaviour, countless local authorities have recently, or are currently, looking into the potential use of stab vests and the benefits they offer to all their lone workers and enforcement officers. Trading Standards, Environment Enforcement Officers, Licensing Officers, Benefit Fraud Investigators, Community Safety Wardens and Anti Social Behaviour Teams are among those having understood the difference stab vests can make to their personal safety. They have acknowledged the fact that this kind of personal protective equipment is no longer exclusively used by Police Officers and Doormen on the front doors of bars and nightclubs.
A range of specialised anti-stab vests have been designed, not just offering stab and slash protection, but also additional protection against blows, punches and kicks. The chance that you will ever be assaulted by someone with a knife or sharp object is extremely unlikely. It is possible, but as I said very unlikely. However, the chance that you might have to face an aggressor, willing to punch, kick or hit you with whatever the person can in that moment get hold of is unfortunately more than just a possibility. Ask yourself, how many incidents have you ever heard of where a lone worker has been stabbed or hurt by a person using a knife, blade or any kind of sharp object? Well, I am not aware of many reports of this kind. Reports of lone workers being assaulted, in the form of a punch or hit by any other kind of tool or make shift weapon are countless. So if you or your department ever decide to look into purchasing personal protective equipment in the form of body armour or stab vests, please make sure that they include protection from all the above attacks.
Robert Kaiser - Managing Director (personalsafety4u)
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For further information on the use of covert and none confrontational looking body armour within your line of work please visit ASEO Europe.
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For further information on personal safety related issues please contact us.
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