Sikh riot cops in UK asked to take off turbans.

[bhramos]

LONDON: Sikh police officers in Britain will be banned from joining firearms or riot teams unless they remove their turbans and adopt a patka, according to a new police guidlines.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said Sikh officers in firearms and riot units would have to adopt a patka - a smaller piece of material - so that they could wear bullet proof helmets.

Gurpal Virdi, co-ordinator of the Met Sikh Police Association, said: "We are pleased that there is now guidance to provide clarity to Sikh police officers who wear turbans in respect of firearm and public order duties. It will ensure Sikh officers are treated with dignity and respect."

The guidance will be in force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and would be reviewed every two to three years.

There are about 2,000 Sikh police officers and staff in the UK.

Turbans were deemed unsafe because they do not fit under helmets and themselves offer insufficient protection. (Good explanation)

The association rejected the notion of designing a bullet-proof turban, but said the idea was worthy of "future exploration".

The guidance was issued after the British Sikh Police Association requested clarification on whether their officers could join firearms and public order units.

Last year, a Sikh police officer who was orered to remove his turban during riot training was awarded 10,000 pounds compensation by an employment tribunal for discrimination. (this is crazy!)

The sikh religion requires male followers to wear a turban and they do not have to wear crash helmets under the Motorcycle Crash Helmets Act 1976.

Meredydd Hughes, chief constables of South Yorkshire and the association lead on uniformed operations, stressed that Sikhs were not being discriminated against.

He told The Daily Telegraph: "The police service has a legal duty to provide appropriate personal protective equipment to staff. Sikh officers will not be discriminated against if they choose not to perform firearms or higher-level public order duties due to their desire to wear a turban."

The guidelines were formulated after consultation with a number of bodies, including the Black and Asian Police Association and the Health and Safety Executive.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...d-to-take-off-turbans/articleshow/5849768.cms

 

[Calanen]

The association rejected the notion of designing a bullet-proof turban, but said the idea was worthy of "future exploration".

I want to see the bullet proof turban.

 

[bhramos]

Bulletproof turban

British Police Sikh Association

but this a definatlly BP turban

 

[ahmedsid]

The Above is a real bullet proof turban? It really exists??? WOW!

 

[bhramos]

Bullet Proof Turbans for Cops
BOFFINS are making BULLETPROOF TURBANS so Sikh officers can become gun cops.
Scientists are developing the sturdy turbans made from Kevlar-like material to act as a shield - because the Sikh religion prevents adult males from removing their headpieces.

With more than 2,000 Sikh police officers and staff in the UK, the newly-formed British Police Sikh Association (BPSA), has made the headpiece one of its priorities.

Inspector Gian Singh Chahal, from Kent Police and vice chairman of the BPSA, told respected industry magazine Police Review today: "Sikh officers have been prohibited from becoming firearms officers because our religion does not allow us to remove the turban.

"Nor can we wear the NATO helmet for public order policing."

He added: "There has been some research done into producing a ballistic material for turbans and we would like to follow any opportunity where we could manufacture a ballistic product - made out of something like Kevlar - that would ensure a certain degree of protection so Sikh police officers could take part in these roles.

"We need to approach the Home Office and police forces and to gain their acceptance so that Sikh officers could become firearms and public order officers whilst wearing turbans.

"I think there needs to be a recognition from the Home Office that would allow Sikh officers to carry out these roles. I think the will is there from chief constables but perhaps not yet from the Home Office."

One Sikh PC, who did not want to be named, said: "It would be incredible if they developed a bulletproof turban.



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2416624.ece#ixzz0mIJwRFvd

 

[ahmedsid]

The article doesnt say the Turbans have been made right? It says under development. So how can the officer on the pic at top be wearing a Bullet proof turban? It looks like a normal one to me!

 

[Soham]

How exactly is the turban in the picture, bulletproof ?

 

[Zaki]

Bulletproof turban

British Police Sikh Association

but this a definatlly BP turban

These are not bullet proof turbons these are ordinary turbons made of clothes

The first picture you have posted is very popular and its posters can be seen on many police stations also........ i have seen on quite a few places and i am sure these are not BP turbons