British Police Flashlights over the past 30 years.

[DaveG]

Interesting thread,thanks.

 

[msim]

Very interesting post! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dave D]

I'm waiting to retire (work related injury and subsequent ill health) but like you am having to look forward to a new chapter in my life. In my case though I wish I'd been able to get another five years in

I hope everything goes ok in your forced retirement.

 

[Dave D]

When I joined in 1983 we weren't issued with boot and in those day we all wore 'Dr Martins', I still have my original 'bulled' pair that I wore for inspections at Training School!

I quickly found that they weren't waterproof and the soles offered little grip in the wet, I tried British Army DMS boot and they leaked like a sieve, I eventually invested in 'Danner' boots, they were expensive but the Vibram soles are replaceable so I got many years of use out of them.

My force now (since about 2001) issues Magnums, because I'm on a specialist unit we get issued 'Altbergs', which are ok but I prefer my old Danners.

 

[mcnair55]

On another forum I visit a UK police officer who is with the armed response section has done a nice write up on the Klarus XT11 which he bought himself and it seems officers from other forces have done the same.

 

[dougie]

Dave D,

Thanks for the best wishes! I can't say ill health retirement is something I'm looking forward to.....sigh! Still, I'm alive and able to think which are two criteria which the DWP applies to people who can't work through injury so that is a blessing I suppose.....(muted sarcasm)!

Doug

 

[Jash]

When I was a kid I had one of those black, rubber Eveready torches. I remember bouncing the light off the ceiling and looking around the very dimly lit room thinking how awesome it was.

Batteries were all but dead after half an hour or so, but if you left it in the sun for a few hours you'd get another minute or two of usable light before you ultimately got to the point where the bulb simply wouldn't even glow anymore. I used it sparingly and loved to take it on camping trips with an extra set of cells for it.

Now, an EO1 makes more light for 20 times longer on a single AAA cell. How far we've come in half a lifetime.

 

[Mr Floppy]

Dave, if you think UK Police Officers had problems with the torches they were issued with you'd be amazed at the rubbish that UK ambulance services had to contend with. As you might expect as UK ambulance services were and are funded by the NHS all non clinical equipment chosen was down to a select group of faceless individuals

Much the same as some of the Australian ambulance services. Plastic 6V dolphin torches were the standard issue. I was asked to hold one as they were attending to a hurt drunk guy. One did have a multi 5mm led petzl headlamp but it was his own purchase.

 

[dougie]

Much the same as some of the Australian ambulance services. Plastic 6V dolphin torches were the standard issue. I was asked to hold one as they were attending to a hurt drunk guy. One did have a multi 5mm led petzl headlamp but it was his own purchase.

It never ceases to amaze me that professionals (whether, police, fire, ambulance etc) are regularly issued with some of the best equipment that money can buy except when it comes to a flashlight/torch. It seems to be a reoccurring story that in many places in the world professionals are either not supplied with a personal flashlight/torch or are given the cheapest rubbish available irrespective of whether or not that it's fit for purpose! Working at night is risky at the best of times and the lack of a good flashlight/torch can make the world of difference to the operator's own safety or survival as well as that of others.

I guess that bean counters or desk pilots who make the decisions about what is and isn't worth buying for their staff are usually the ones who've never worked a night shift in their life?

 

[fyrstormer]

I'm surprised they let you use such durable flashlights. Some of those look more than heavy enough to cause pain, possibly even minor injury, if they were used to hit someone.

 

[Dave D]

I'm surprised they let you use such durable flashlights. Some of those look more than heavy enough to cause pain, possibly even minor injury, if they were used to hit someone.

We get batons for that! LOL

 

[gravelmonkey]

This all reminds me of the news article about the police officer sueing a petrol station for tripping over a kerb.

IMO, she is a prime example of the disgusting compensation culture taking hold in this country. I don't really think a small kerb is sufficient hazard for someone to have to point out to you. I could understand if it was an area with unfamiliar hazards (chemicals/heat/machinery/steep drops) but a petrol station forecourt is a reasonably 'friendly' terrain to work in. Maybe she should have invested in a torch with her previous compensation claim winnings....

Rant over.

Interesting history of lights btw, I'd seen the Dragon Light on Police Interceptors or something before and couldn't work out what it was!

Edit: WOW! Talk about Mr. Angry! I had my grumpy jumper on that day. Apologies y'all.

 

[SeriouslyFlashlights]

Nice read, thanks for posting.

 

[JasonC8301]

Nice post. The dept I am in over in the states has a policy of a 2c min 3d max size maglite but there is a stipulation of the wording "equivalent power." A few Surefires in my squad. Then again I wouldn't know about the other 33000 officers in terms of what they use. Funny line, most cols are cheap...

 

[piglet]

I think the problems might extend to the fire brigade, too.

There was a large gorse fire near to where I was living a few years ago. A couple of days later a couple of firefighters were refilling a water tank (only there in case the fire brigade needed it), so I went over for a chat and to say thanks. I'm sure their torches were chosen to survive heat or whatever - shame my inova x5 kicked out far more light. With their torches I could see that the tank had some liquid in it, with mine I could see, well, the tank.

 

[CyclingSalmon14]

No idea what the current UK issue light is, but in the town I live in, all the officers I see have LLP7s, no idea if they all got them themselve or there issued though. but an OK light I guess, better than a Maglite, just.

 

[Dave D]

Well I retired in October 2013 so no longer have any idea if the mini maglite is still being issued but I would be surprised if anything has changed.

I bought the Surefire P2X but didn't get the chance to use it on the streets. I bored it to accept a 18650 rechargeable and also bought an ESP holster for it as shown in the picture below.

If I was still doing the job out on the streets then that would have been with me at all times when on duty.

When I was on Air Support I carried a Surefire E2L Outdoorsman clipped onto my flightsuit, in addition to a Gerber LED AA light that was given to me by the officer that I replaced, when I retired I presented it to my replacement. If he's still using it then it's been in service since 1996 which is when it was first issued.

 

[Monocrom]

Rather surprised to hear that UK officers weren't issued lights at all back in 1983; but had to sign out for one during a shift.

Still, the topic itself is fascinating. Thanks for making it.

 

[Monocrom]

If Surefire would bring out a rechargeable G2X Pro, with the High output as the primary, then I think that would be a very good duty flashlight for UK Officers.

Sadly the closest thing to that today would be the Pelican 7060 model.

Bit bigger than the SureFire G2X Pro, especially at the head. Though with its two output levels and polymer construction so The Powers At Be don't get upset, especially with its background as a politically correct standard issue flashlight for the LAPD, it should prove beneficial to UK officers.

 

[Dave D]

Sadly the closest thing to that today would be the Pelican 7060 model.

Bit bigger than the SureFire G2X Pro, especially at the head. Though with its two output levels and polymer construction so The Powers At Be don't get upset, especially with its background as a politically correct standard issue flashlight for the LAPD, it should prove beneficial to UK officers.

It's a shame that the 7060 is so expensive considering it only got an output of 164/36 lumens, the SF G2X Pro is much cheaper and has 320/15 Lumens, the $ saving could buy a lot of CR123's.

I'm looking forward to seeing the SF P1R Peacekeeper, 800/15 lumens, rechargeable and in a size similar to the Fury. If the VOC (Variable Output Tailcap) becomes available as a separate item than that would be a nice package.

My experience is that most UK Cops don't want to spend money on a quality flashlight, I remember when I first bought a G2 my collegues thought I was mad spending that much on a flashlight!