Stab vests issued to Inishowen Gardai 27.08.07

GARDAI in Inishowen have been issued with a new addition to their uniforms - stab vests. A spokesperson told InishowenNews.com the vests were being phased in for Gardai in all divisions of the country.
"Some people nowadays are more willing to carry knives and the stab vests have been added to the uniform for our own personal safety," said the Garda spokesperson. "It started out as a pilot scheme but it was decided to roll it out nationally and the vests have been phased in over the past few months." The vests are not one-size-fits-all,

so each Garda officer has to be measured for their own individual vest. This allows for optimum safety in the event of an attack. Meanwhile, Gardai issued a statement regarding the decision not to allow turbans as part of the standard uniform. It said: "The Garda Síochána has, historically, been seen as providing an impartial police service, policing all sections of society equally. By accommodating variations to our standard uniform and dress, including those with religious symbolism, may well affect that traditional stance and give an image of An Garda Síochána which the Commissioner feels the public would not want. "The Garda Commissioner has set the required standards of dress and behaviour for An Garda Síochána and these standards are binding on all members of the organisation. "The decisions regarding our integration policy, including that of the wearing of a turban, were not made on a whim, but rather following extensive research and consultations."

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