It's a difficult compromise. You need the tradition with the top hat etc but we carry taser, firearms, CS canisters torches. The uniform I wear is woefully inadequate for the job I do but the powers that be are more concerned with us wearing a crappy little Velcro patch with your name on it rather than supply us with say rip proff trousers. There should be a number 1 uniform and something fit for the 21st century but it won't happen so we do what we have always done and buy your own kit.
Craig