You must look the part, police told in drive to boost visibility

South Yorkshire Police will ask its investigators to be “properly suited up” at work, while dozens of plain clothes officers will be returned to uniform so they can be more easily recognised as police.

The reforms come after Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright made “increasing visible policing” one of his three priorities. But the county’s Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said the attempt to make the police more visible would only “paper over the cracks” left by reduced resources.

Other changes include a further 70 unmarked police vehicles being given South Yorkshire Police crests and the word “police”, meaning 500 of the force’s 750-strong fleet will be marked up.

The force also plans to overhaul signage, with new signs created at more than 40 buildings across the county to match that at its new HQ, Carbrook House, Sheffield.

One element of the scheme will see police constables and sergeants attached to CID units asked to return to uniform, while detectives will be made more identifiable as police officers.

Between a quarter and half of the force’s 2,700 officers are currently in plain clothes. Many will remain so if needed for covert operations but could be told to wear their uniform on the way to work.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Martyn Bates, who is leading the visibility project, said detectives would be told that “rather than dress down, it will be a case of them looking the part, being properly suited up with proper identification”.

“It is a case of trying to reinforce the fact that they are part of a professional organisation. It is about displaying their warrant badge and the fact that they are a police officer.

“Nobody is saying the detectives turn up to work looking a real mess. It is just making sure that they are displaying their warrant cards when they go out of the building and that they are smart.”

The plans, which are still in their early stages, include a more visible role for civilian police staff normally in back-office roles.

Many will be given marked fluorescent police jackets and become a “point of contact” at community events or crime scenes, although it will be made clear they are not warranted officers.

Mr Wright said he wanted police vehicles to be marked if they were on regular business and not in covert use.

He said: “I want to ensure the highest visibility for the Police in South Yorkshire, and one way of ensuring this is to make use of those existing resources that aren’t being used.

“There are also 87 police-owned buildings in South Yorkshire that can potentially provide an excellent platform for relevant messages from the police to their local communities.

“These buildings are otherwise unidentifiable as belonging to the police.”

Neil Bowles of the South Yorkshire Police Federation, said the moves were “only papering over the cracks”. He said: “South Yorkshire Police has lost nearly 500 officer posts in the last six years; that could be the main reason for less visibility.

“I have no issues with new signage... but will that make the public want to visit them to report their concerns, only to be disappointed as there will not be any more enquiry desks?”