Specification

When producing a specification for a universal torch and warning lamp for the Police and Emergency Services, a number of issues were considered to be critically important by individual Police Officers and procurement officials.

The Police PC8 successfully addresses all these issues:

• The design of the unit allows it to be mounted on the body of an individual providing hands free use for officers in confrontational situations with much greater flexibility in dealing with a situation and reducing the risk of personal injury.
• A variety of different coloured lighting is particularly useful in situations such as road traffic accidents, where red and blue lights can be displayed to control the flow of vehicles and provides greatly improved officer visibility and safety.
• Light emitting diodes (LED) are able to strobe enabling the torch to be used as a visual aid for ground to air communication with force helicopters due to officers being easily and quickly identified on the ground. This is particularly beneficial to officers working in rural environments in complete darkness for rapid assistance from the air.
• The PC8 incorporates a number of white light emitting diodes, sufficient to provide a wide beam of low intensity white light for use in situations where documents have to be read and a wide spread of high intensity white light, for use in area, vehicle or personal searches.

Requirements

• The PC8 is highly visible and has a multitude of lighting options for everyday Policing.
• The PC8 consumes power at a lower rate than a comparable incandescent bulb type torch.
• The PC8 is of a very robust construction, allowing its use in day-to-day policing operations.
• The PC8 is constructed in such a way as to allow officers easy access to all operating controls with bare or gloved hands.
• The PC8 has a mounting clip to allow attachment to loops on clothing and issue uniforms.
• The PC8 is water resistant, sufficiently so to enable its use in showers and heavy rain.
• The PC8 uses only three standard AA batteries as its power source.
• Battery replacement is a quick and simple operation.
• The PC8 is fits comfortably in the palm of a hand.
• The design and shape of the PC8 allows it to be placed flat on the ground in a stable position with the light source facing upwards so it can be seen by aircraft.
• The PC8 has a universal mounting so that it can be secured in a variety of positions.

The following forces are currently using the Police PC8 Torch either across the entire force or within individual units:

Avon & Somerset Constabulary
Bedfordshire Police
Cambridgeshire Police
Central Scotland
Cheshire Police
Dorset Police
Dumfries & Galloway Police
Essex Police
Hampshire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary
Merseyside Police
Norfolk Constabulary
North Wales Traffic Police
Royal Military Police
Suffolk Constabulary
Tayside Police
Warwickshire Police