Analysis of officers on the scene of the bus blast, Split from Tavistock Square thread

Thank you for that Muncher, great video...

There are a few interesting things in this footage, the black clad policeman visible at 10 seconds, is that some kind of helme he is holding, what type of policeman wears this gear? He is wearing some protective gear as well, a back/neck protector? But the helmet is not a motorbike helmet and neither does he look like a mounted policeman

seconded, nice job Muncher

Truthseeker, i think that the policeman is wearing military armour, the lid he's carrying definitely looks like a composite army type one - with a lexan/polycarb flip down visor ? but issued in black - so is he army ? did they 'deputise' soldiers and use them, or is he a copper ? i cannot tell you, but my guess is that whichever company makes that gear for military, also knocks it out for coppers, the trousers look like waterproofs over another layer

How come the policeman centre shot seems to be wearing khaki trousers?

Policeman, or just someone in a high vis, if a policeman then that is two policemen in their own gear with police high vis coats on, plainclothes on the scene immediately?



Definately a policeman, complete with identity number, several layers of body armour visible, note ribbing under his arm at the back, unusual neck protection.



Clear view of helmet, what task does this officer perform? I can't work out what scenario this gear is made for, and quick on the scene too. Is he part of some kind of armed response unit? If so he is geared up for a close exchange rather than a sniper type task.

Our local dog handlers wear all black, very milataryesque, but no helmet and no body armour.

Same bloke, holding a radio, police markings on the jacket.

Same bloke, holding a radio, police markings on the jacket.

Excellent work Muncher, do you have the footage this shot came from?

Why so many policemen in plain clothes on the scene, I wonder?

This picture is taken looking up into Tavistock Square from Woburn Place, who are all the civvies inside the cordon?

Also note the broken cordons, I can see two, they really were up and down. Indeed could not have those broken cordens already be on the floor when the ITV footage was recorded, hence why there seems to be no cordons.

This post has been edited by truthseeker on Dec 21 2006, 01:24 PM

i'm quite certain that the reason why that armour has the neck protection is because it's military spec gear, it was always a weak point in earlier gen armour, soldiers wearing lids and jackets were getting shot in the neck, so they added an armoured collar to avoid this, you should see the exact same gear on soldiers in Iraq except it's camo, so whoever that guy was, he was wearing black military body armour (imho). the numbers on the uniform don't necessarily mean anything, he's a cop or some sort of army cop-a-like, but he's well kitted out whoever he is

all the bods in hi-vis chequer jackets appear to be community support - hence the various states of uniform ranging from jeans (and khaki combats ? - or maybe a soldier/soldiers were called upon to be 'community support' officers, though it would make more sense if he had temperate camo trousers than desert) to the guy with the fancy hat in another shot

Bridget, i might be wrong, but i think the lorry in clip two is a white crane, with a very dirty and/or corroding rear mesh section - hence the camo like appearance, but i'm not certain

The obvious answer to the policeman in body armour is bomb disposal.