Police to adopt navy, NY look

Police in Victoria are set to wear new New York-style uniforms in the first major fashion overhaul of the force's threads in 30 years.
From next year, officers will swap the current sky blue shirt for a darker, navy blue variety designed to be more practical and comfortable for officers on the beat.
Unveiling the new uniforms this afternoon, acting deputy commissioner Lucinda Nolan said police officers had complained that the current uniform was impractical, particularly female officers who said their shirts were too short and didn't contain pockets.

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Constable Elizabeth Tonkin and Senior Sergeant Andrew Falconer model the new navy blue Victoria Police uniforms. Photo: Michael Clayton-Jones

"The shirts aren't long enough so they come adrift at the back. Females don't have pockets on the shirt, so we find it hard to carry things around, needless to say," she said.
"Pockets on the pants and the undergarments on the vests have also been problematic so we're looking at more functional, practical, breathable undergarments rather than the shirts we currently have."
The new colour scheme will make Victoria Police resemble the American constabulary, however Ms Nolan said that was not the intention.
She said there were currently about 80 different ways the Victoria Police uniform could be worn, with some specialist units such as the water police and dog squad already dressed in navy garb.
The differences could be confusing to the public, she said.
"So this is really about making sure that we are recognisable and so that when we're at major events or other areas, that the community know this is a Victoria Police member and there's no confusion with other agencies or organisations," she said.
"Globally, navy blue is recognisable as a police agency. We're not the only jurisdiction in Australia moving towards the navy blue. South Australia and the Northern Territory are already moving that way, so I think in terms of Australian policing jurisdictions, it's a good fit."
The new uniforms will include longer shirts with pockets for females, better pockets on tactical pants, pants that can be worn with a thigh holster and a fabric that is more breathable and washable.
The uniforms will go out to tender late this month or early next month, and are expected to be trialled in Victoria later this year before being rolled out across the force from August next year.
Ms Nolan said it was unclear what the cost of the project would be, or where the new uniforms would be manufactured.
Meantime, Ms Nolan said she had not decided whether she would apply for the chief commissioner's role following the shock resignation of Simon Overland last week.
Ms Nolan took up the post of acting deputy commissioner today, leaving her previous role as assistant commissioner for the Western Region of Victoria.
Asked if the chief commissioner's job was one she aspired to, she said: "It hasn't been something I've turned my mind to, to be brutally honest.
"I'm not ruling it out, I'm not ruling it in.
"My biggest priority ... is to make sure that service delivery to the community continues and isn't adversely impacted by the events of the last week. So look, I havent given it consideration. I've got more important pressing, requirements at this stage."