WANGANUI police officers are being issued with stab-proof armoured vests to help keep themselves safe on the job.
All frontline staff are getting the vests, which weigh 2.8kgs. More than 6500 are being fitted nationwide.
Speaking to the Wanganui Chronicle yesterday, constables Tina Kopelic and Aaron Bunker said the vests took some
getting used to but were worth it for the extra protection.
"You feel a lot safer. If you take a good punch, it minimises the impact," Ms Kopelic said.
They weren't as heavy as she thought they would be but a lot warmer.
"They are real warm, it's not too bad for winter but summer will be harder," she said.
Police looked forward to the vests arrival because of the increasingly dangerous aspects of their jobs.
"A lot of our jobs have weapons involved so it is extra protection for us."
Mr Bunker said anything that added to an officer's safety was welcome.
All officers fitted with the vests must watch a training video which states police policy on the vest and what it is capable of.
The video shows a dummy wearing a vest being slashed with a knife, screwdriver and hypodermic needle.
There are two types of vest. One can be worn over an officer's shirt and another version underneath.
