The primary concern regarding the uniform for female officers revolves around the trousers' fit, as it plays a crucial role in ensuring comfort during lengthy eight to ten-hour shifts. Frequently, the issue lies in the style of the trousers, as they may have excessively narrow legs or ill-fitting waistbands, causing discomfort and tightness around the thighs for many women.
Most manufacturers of trousers for the Police only focus on male trousers however one brand that gives as much attention if not more to ensuring that females have correct fitting trousers is First Tactical and this can be seen in the UK with the Defender Trousers for Firearms Officers. A female fitting trouser was specifically manufactured and is on contract to over 30 Police Forces in the UK. First Tactical also manufacture female fitting trousers for all areas of Police work including maternity trousers.
What are the basic differences?
To accommodate the unique anatomical characteristics of both females and males, trousers are designed with significant variations in form, design, and embellishments. When it comes to women's trousers, they typically exhibit the following features:
Enhanced curvature and expanded width at the hips to accentuate the feminine silhouette.
Comparatively smaller waist measurements, tailored specifically for women.
Increased hip measurements to accommodate the wider hip structure of women.
On the other hand, men's trousers incorporate additional room in the crotch area to ensure comfortable mobility.
There is a lot more science to it than this and First Tactical designers engage with female officers and extensively test all trousers before releasing them to market.
Why Care?
In addition to the psycho-social factors, such as feelings of well-being and belonging, there is compelling evidence indicating that wearing poorly fitting police uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) can pose significant health hazards for women.
A few things to consider when choosing Police trousers for any gender
- Material: Police trousers are typically made of a durable material such as polyester, cotton or a blend of both. The fabric is designed to be tough and resistant to tearing, abrasions and stains.
- Pockets: Police trousers usually have multiple pockets to hold various equipment. The pockets may be reinforced with additional material to prevent wear and tear.
- Belt loops: Police trousers have belt loops to allow officers to wear a duty belt. The belt holds essential equipment such as holsters, pouches, and mag pouches.
- Comfort: Police trousers are designed to be comfortable, especially for officers who need to wear them for long periods of time. They may feature an elastic waistband, gusseted crotch, and reinforced knees (depending on role) for added mobility and comfort.
- Fit: Look for trousers that fit well and are true to size. Ensure that the waist, hips, and inseam measurements match your body type.
- Colors: Police trousers come in a range of colors, with navy blue and black being the most common. Some departments may require specific colors to match their uniform policy.
- Durability: Police trousers are designed to withstand the rigors of law enforcement work, including physical confrontations and inclement weather. They are often treated with water-resistant or stain-resistant coatings to improve their lifespan. First Tactical Trousers uses material that goes through hundreds of washes without losing colour.
- Department requirements: Check if your department has any specific requirements for uniform colors or materials.
In the UK First Tactical use a range of premium dealers to supply directly to the Police and Public Services ensuring that the government agencies are getting fantastic prices on all products and not paying inflated retail prices.
With 9 Pairs of trousers (2023) designed for women in the Public Services for every task from Firearms or Counter Terror Officer to Negotiator to medical and duty pants another thing that sets First Tactical apart is the range of colours and the stock holdings. At any one time First Tactical have over half a million pair of pants in stock and hold some of the biggest Public Service contracts in the world. One of the prime reasons for this is the focus on female fitting clothing no matter what the role is.
If your department would like a presentation on the range of First Tactical clothing please email sales@cldistribution.co.uk and we can get someone to come and visit from CL or a First Tactical premium dealer.
