Legal Insights: Are Stab Vests Allowed For Personal Protection?

Personal safety is a fundamental concern for individuals, especially when in a line of work that can threaten it. Jobs within the military, Police, council enforcement and security all fall under this umbrella, and employers are keen to ensure that their staff and colleagues are protected as much as possible when doing their job.

Body armour is one piece of uniform equipment that employers can provide to their front-line staff as a means of protection, but is there any legality to consider about providing a stab or ballistic vest?

Let’s take a look at the legal landscape surrounding stab vests and body armour, including laws related to these garments, what the UK regulations are and whether there are any limitations or restrictions.

Understanding the Legal Landscape

The legal landscape regarding body armour varies across different jurisdictions across the world, where some countries will have specific regulations, whilst others may not have explicit laws addressing them.

In the UK (the umbrella term for England, Scotland and Wales) every organisation has a duty of care to protect their staff under the Health & Safety at Work Act, and this includes issuing body armour to staff that are at risk. An employer can face industrial tribunals if an incident occurs when employees are not adequately protected, and the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act both allow for unlimited fines and publicity orders.

Certifications and Standards

The UK has its own body armour certifications and standards that need to be adhered to when it comes to stab vests and ballistic vests, so let’s take a look at those in more detail.

CE Mark: Body armour for civilian use falls under European Council Directive 89/686/EEC on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which states that any armour sold to civilian users must be CE (European Conformity) approved. Only Police and Military wearers are exempt from this PPE legislation, so any job role that requires body armour but isn’t police or military will need their body armour to be CE Marked.

Home Office Standards: The UK market is regulated by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB), and aside from a CE Mark this HOSDB certification, or more recently known as CAST is the only thing needed.  It’s not illegal to buy or sell body armour that isn’t certified by the Home Office – but the onus is on the employer to ensure the protection is adequate; a product that is ‘made to’ the Home Office standards doesn’t mean that it’s been officially certified.

Limitations and Restrictions

Currently, the UK has no specific laws surrounding members of the public wearing or carrying body armour in public, but should an incident arise, the individual should be able to prove that the armour has come from a legitimate source and not for the use of illegal activities.

Conclusion

Within the UK, stab vests and body armour are allowed for personal protection. The legal factors that need to be considered are Home Office certified products, and products that are CE Marked. These 2 specifications not only help employers give their staff the best possible protection but also themselves should the worst occur in the line of duty.

FAQs

What certifications and standards apply to body armour in the UK?

Body armour must be CE Marked (European Conformity) to be supplied to civilians in the UK. Only Military and Police personnel are exempt from having CE Marked body armour.  The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) regulates the standards in the UK, these may also now be called CAST certification.

What protection levels are used in the UK?

The protection levels used in the UK are KR/SP (knife resistance/spike resistance) and HG/KR/SP (handgun resistance/knife resistance/spike resistance). There are levels to each protection e.g. KR1/SP1 or HG1/KR1/SP1 or HG2/KR2/SP2. NIJ IIIA and other NIJ standards are American standards which don’t apply to the UK market.

Is it illegal to have body that doesn’t have these certifications or standards?

It’s not illegal to buy or sell body armour that isn’t certified by the Home Office – but the onus is on the employer to ensure the protection is adequate; a product that is ‘made to’ the Home Office standards doesn’t mean that it’s been officially certified, and a certificate should be requested before purchase. Body armour must be CE Marked to be used in the UK by civilians – only military and police personnel are exempt from having CE Marked body armour.

Are there specific permits or licenses required to wear stab vests in the UK?

There aren’t any specific licenses or permits for body armour in the UK, and there are currently no specific laws relating to wearing or carrying body armour in public.