Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager
Information Management Services
Mr James Collins
[email address]
[FOI #10299 email]
Direct line
Direct fax
020 7601 2279
020 7601 2088
Your ref:
Our ref:
15 June 2009
Dear Mr Collins
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF: COL/09/177
I write in connection with your request for information dated 9 April 2009 in which you seek
access to the following information:
1. Having just watched the Guardian Newspapers video of the seeming to be assault of
Ian Tomlinson at a G20 protest in London I noticed that many officers, mainly those
in riot gear had obscured their faces with some kind of scarf. Is it now a standard
operating procedure (SOP) for officers when wearing riot gear to obscure their faces
and if so why and for how long has this been SOP? If none of your officers are ever
seconded for 'riot' duty please indicate this.
The article of clothing referred to is a standard police issue flash proof headover.
This item is used in circumstances where additional protective clothing is required
and provides added protection against flash burns thus providing officers with an
appropriate level of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations gives the City of London
Police an absolute duty to provide PPE to employees where risks cannot be
controlled by other means. The Police (Health and Safety) Regulations require this
provision to be complied with so far as reasonably practicable where the
characteristics of the policing activity are such that compliance would conflict with the
exercise of police powers or performance of police duties.
PPE is defined as all equipment designed to be worn or held by a person at work to
protect against one or more risks and any addition or accessory designed to meet
this objective. The City of London Police provides suitable PPE to their employees
where this is necessary and appropriate.
In deciding as to whether PPE is suitable the City of London Police considers if it is:
Wood Street Police Station
PO Box 36427, 37 Wood Street, London EC2M 2NP
Tel 020 7601 2279
Textphone 020 7601 2906
www.cityoflondon.police.uk
Cont/ …
• Appropriate for the risk(s) involved and the conditions where exposure may
occur.
• Takes account of the ergonomic requirements and state of health of the
person who may wear it.
• Able to fit all wearers correctly.
• Effective to prevent or adequately control the risk(s) involved without
increasing overall risk, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to your request. Should you have any
further questions, please contact me via e-mail, letter or telephone, quoting the reference
number above.
Yours sincerely
Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager
Wood Street Police Station
PO Box 36427, 37 Wood Street, London EC2M 2NP
Tel 020 7601 2279
Textphone 020 7601 2906
www.cityoflondon.police.uk
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