Protective Body Armour - Choosing the Right One

Due to health & safety regulations, recent violent incidents, increasing lack of respect and the noticeable increase in anti social behaviour, key decision makers within the world of security, health & safety or procurement are aiming to issue protective body armour to their frontline staff.

Making the right choice when it comes to protective body armour is essential and can potentially mean the difference between life and death.  It can make the difference between coming home safely after a day of work or ending up in a hospital.

Please allow me to offer you my personal advice here.  Advice based on almost 20 years of frontline experience within high risk security operations and advising governmental departments, prisons and hospitals in personal safety related matters in a number of countries.

Overt VS Covert Body Armour

As a health & safety advisor, security professional or someone responsible for purchasing PPE, you must agree that wearing overt stab proof body armour can often be perceived as confrontational and subsequently can lead to an escalation rather than 'prevention' of aggressive behaviour or action.  As the Managing Director and Founder of ASEO I genuinely believe that the advantage of wearing a covert anti stab body armour will always outweigh any benefit overt protective body armour can offer.

Dealing with intoxicated individuals, aggressors or other people who simply have a serious dislike for authority in general means dealing with someone who can overreact at anytime to anything you say or do, often capable of causing serious harm. 

I am personally convinced that more frontline operatives who chose to wear overt body armour will be attacked around the head or face, as attackers can clearly see that the upper body is well protected.  However, wearing covert  body armour  vests diminishes this risk and can give the wearer the added benefit of taking a potential attacker by surprise by remaining 'unaffected' or 'unharmed' during a violent knife attack.  This can often provide the perfect moment to escape or use legitimate self defence if required.

We at ASEO have carried out extensive research projects into the advantage of covert protective body armour and the majority of these indicate clearly that choosing covert body armour will most likely result in a lower risk of being attacked while on duty - compared to wearing overt or visible body armour.  Wearing a covert body armour will allow you to deal with a potentially hostile situation, primarily using diplomacy and communication skills, while being effectively protected in case the situation escalates.

The only main advantage of using overt body armour is the fact that it can be taken off and put back on quickly, which is very useful for those frontline staff returning to the office frequently in order to report or follow other procedures.

Stab Protection Levels

What level of stab protection you or your employees require will depend on the potential threat.  It is that simple... making the right choice can mean the difference between life and death. 

If it is your decision which protective body armour will be purchased then please pay your full attention.

First of all it is absolutely crucial that you are looking for Home Office certified stab body armour only.  We at ASEO are fully aware of the many protective body armour available on eBay and other online sites and shops, often run by individuals with a very limited knowledge of stab and knife protection.

Home Office Certification for protective body armour exists for the following categories:

KR (Knife Resistant)

KR1 - I estimate that KR1 stab proof body armour are worn by more than 90% of all frontline staff.  Only Police Officers in certain regions and security professionals or other frontline operatives entering very high risk environments will be looking for a higher stab protection.

KR2 - As mentioned above, KR2 is worn by individuals entering very high risk environments or those dealing with criminal organisations or similar threats.  These stab proof body armour will be heavier due to the materials required.

SP (Spike Protection)

SP1 - Required by most police forces and other frontline operatives as indicated above. SP also specifies that such protective body armour offer needle protection, especially important within hospital and similar environments.

SP2 - Simply a higher protection level to the above.

Flexible VS Rigid Protective Body Armour

For me personally this would be an easy one.

I am fully aware that the majority of frontline staff would put comfort before safety.  Well, I do not!

We at ASEO use hardened polymer composites for our innovative range of protective body armour, resulting in a superb product with a unique infinite lifespan as well as unrivalled protection from blunt trauma, caused by punches, kicks or blows by any offensive weapon.  Based on my professional frontline experience and extensive research I can verify that an impact based assault is a more likely event than an attack involving an edged weapon.

So, why choosing flexible protective body armour that offer you stab protection only?

Why not issuing your frontline employees with body armour which go way beyond basic knife protection?

Materials used

Most 'soft' or 'flexible' body armour are manufactured using either a material called Kevlar or a similar aramid fibre.  Please note that the shelf live of Kevlar based protective clothing is limited to 3-5 years due to a number of factors

The life expectancy of Kevlar will be reduced if it is exposed to either UV light or moisture.  Meaning if Kevlar based protective body armour are stored in the boot of your employees car or worn in the wet, the body armour will fail to protect you at a much earlier stage.

Kevlar manufactured stab resistant body armour must be replaced after a maximum of 5 years.  Please check your existing body armour.  A date stamp on the label will clearly indicate the date the product has been manufactured.  Please contact us for further advice.

Our video clip "The Best Stab Proof Vests in the World" can be viewed on our website or on YouTube.  This impressive video clip will give you an unforgettable visual impression and demonstrate what amazing level of protection our KR1 stab proof body armour can offer.  Please acknowledge that our stab proof body armour comes with an unlimited life expectancy compare to the 3-5 years of Kevlar based body armour. 

If you are interested in further information in reference to protective body armour then please do not hesitate and contact us.  We are here to help you!