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Bike berets great
 PCs Chan and Chu show how the berets fold up for easy storage in bike panniers |
Newly-issued berets for motorcycle officers have been well received by Traffic teams.
The berets were recently distributed among Traffic officers to replace their Force-issue caps, worn while dismounted from their two-wheeled police machines.
OffBeat caught up with Police Constables Chu Chi-ming and Chan Wing-cheong of Traffic Hong Kong Island (Enforcement and Control) who both hailed the new berets when we asked for their opinions.
PC Chu said : "We have to carry quite a bit of equipment in our panniers such as a briefcase, a breathalyser, cameras, first-aid kit, water and even a raincoat. That really takes up a lot of space and there is simply no room for the cap. But the situation is totally different with a beret which is easily folded and stored.
"Because of their rigidity, the caps wore out easily if frequently folded. I think the soft berets are more durable in this regard and a better use of resources. They also fit the head much better."
PC Chan added : "Frontline traffic officers often need to direct traffic on the streets and the caps with their visors can be a vision barrier and are not as good as berets. Since most traffic officers have completed Police Tactical Unit training and are accustomed to wearing berets, they are always at ease wearing them and know they maintain an officer's image of authority."