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PSDB No:7/03/A 2003 & No:7/03/B 2003

Body Armour Standards for UK Police

Introduction

This standard is the culmination of a major piece of work within PSDB armour materials programme, which is supported by:

  • The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Self Defence and Restraint Working Group;
  • The Home Office Public Order Reassurance Unit (PORU) (This work supports Home Office AIM 1, which is “ Reduction in crime, particularly youth crime, and the fear of crime: and the maintenance of public safety and good order”);
  • The Police Federation of England and Wales.

 

The standard provides an increased choice to police purchasing units and wearers through five levels of ballistic protection. These are described below:

  • HG1/A Lightweight-flexible armour intended for use by the unarmed officer in very low risk patrolling situations. Suitable for both overt and covert use;
  • HG1 A general duty armour for low risk situations. May be overt or covert;
  • HG2 A special duty armour intended for use in firearms operations. Can be used in conjunction with RF1and SG1 plates. Usually overt;
  • SG1 Offers protection from full-length shotguns at close range. Usually used in conjunction with HG2 armour;
  • RF1 Offers protection against soft-core ammunition fired from rifles. Usually used in conjunction with HG2 armour.

Scope

This part of the standard contains the performance requirements and test protocol for the testing of body armour to PSDB Ballistic threat levels.

PSDB Ballistic Performance Levels
Performance Level Weapon & Calibre Ammunition Description Bullet Mass Minimum Range (m) Velocity (m/s)
HG1/A Handgun 9 mm Calibre 9 mm FMJ Dynamit Nobel DM11A1B2 8.0 g/124 gr 5 360 ± 10
Handgun 0.357” Magnum Remington Soft Point Flat Nose R357/M3 10.2 g/158 gr 5 385 ± 10
HG1 Handgun 9 mm Calibre 9 mm FMJ Dynamit Nobel DM11A1B2 8.0 g/124 gr 5 360 ± 10
Handgun 0.357” Magnum Remington Soft Point Flat Nose R357/M3 12.0 g/158 gr 5 385 ± 10
HG2 Carbine 9 mm Calibre 9 mm FMJ Dynamit Nobel DM11A1B2 8.0 g/124 gr 5 425 ± 10
Handgun 0.357” Magnum Remington Soft Point Flat Nose R357/M3 10.2 g158 gr 5 450 ± 10
SG1 Shotgun 12 gauge True cylinder Winchester 1 oz. Rifled Lead Slug 12RS15 or 12RSE 28.4 g/437 gr 10 435 ± 25
RF1 Rifle 7.62 mm Calibre Royal Ordnance NATO Ball L2A2 9.3 g/144 gr 10 830 ±15