Do any of you retail guys wear covert stab vests??

M

MikeDerby

Full Registered User
I'm going to speak to my employer about it but before I do, i just have a few questions regarding how visible they are, even though they are "covert"

I've seen guards wearing them and you can tell straight away because the back sticks out and makes them look like they have a hunchback

I usually wear a jacket or a jumper so it shouldn't be that obvious that I am wearing one


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Thats because they have brought the wrong vest...

Why,
Overt plates in covert holder
Wrong size
Not fitted correct

Wearing body armour is YOUR choice, you employer can say neither yes or no, just think where you are first before you put it on. Also remember that a large percentage of the time, retail guys are working alone, if you come into a situation that requires body armour when working in retail - let them take the item, you are not paid enough to put your life on the line
 
Mike, I worked 'Loss Prevention' for some years... and despite what some may say about that discipline within the industry it is a role where one learns much and learns quickly... It's a great foundation for 'ALL' security as far as I am concerned, note 'Members' I have used the word 'Foundation'... I'm not saying it is the be all and end all of all aspects...

With regard to your specific question or enquiry? Wear one mate, especially these days if your are at the sharp end of public interface. Ensure that it meets the required standards (It should or must do) but in my professional opinion also ensure that it is effective against hypodermic needles. In my day that was always the chosen deterrent to apprehension or arrest from persistent shoplifters... The syringe would either be full of blood or perhaps tomato sauce...

Just a thought...

CD
 
I think there is a tendency for people to go for the highest level of protection they can afford and end up with "Bullet proof" when its not needed and quite possible they will find only too late that it doesn't protect against blades and needles.
So make sure that what you get will give you protection against the things you're most likely to face, I'd agree with Carl that by far the most likely weapon is a needle with knives being used less but still a threat.

Also remember that it only protects the bits it covers and there's still quite a lot of vulnerable bits it doesn't protect.
 
A few years back a lot of Loss Prevention Officers nationally, from the same high street store wanted to be issued with stab vests. After a LPO was tragically stabbed and killed. I'm not sure what the uproar over it was for ? The LPO was stabbed in the neck, a stab vest would not of offered any protection. I would rather be unemployed than work where I felt I needed a stab vest. I'm not talking about military, police, or private security, their roles and duties are different. Just on the high street. In civvies when you can't jail me for walkin away, I'd walk. Let them have the stuff, my kids want me home now. Nothing and no-one is more important than me.
 
You only need the vest to work once to make it worth while.
If you buy one, make sure it's the right one and wear it every day.
forget the neigh sayers who prattle on about ''I've worked this job 20 years and never been stabbed''
chance are they won't live to tell the tale if they are.
They take the impact out of blows from fists and baseball bats, boots etc as well, that I can attest to from first hand experience.
as regards walking away, well there are situations sometimes you just can't walk away from, and still feel good about yourself.
 
It is the policy of my employer that you must wear one, if anything happens to you on duty and no vest no payout.
 
I have worn mine in the past for retail duties but must confess I only wore it in certain stores. Ie woolwich and various other places that are a bit challenging to lol.

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Christ, Woolwich my old stomping ground, the area must has changed since I was there in the 80's / 90's.
Use to have hoofing nights out in town, but sadly the Lee Rigby incident has cast a dark shadow over that part of SE London.

Glad I'm away from it, but have fond memories and still have friends in the area.
Stay Safe Danny mate.

D

danny56o said:
I have worn mine in the past for retail duties but must confess I only wore it in certain stores. Ie woolwich and various other places that are a bit challenging to lol.

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I thought he meant The Woolwich Building Society.
I was thinking PPI sounded like the least of their problems, if they need vests to work in there.
 
danny56o said:
I have worn mine in the past for retail duties but must confess I only wore it in certain stores. Ie woolwich and various other places that are a bit challenging to lol.

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Got balls working there mate..! Cant remember the bar name, but its the one just by spoons, all the door staff there wear overt bullet vests, crazy! Its a bad area, i only go drinking there with other DS after work, at least then you know someone good is watching your back
 
He.He Overt Vests that sums up the area quite nicely...

Nearest pub i can remember was The Earl of Chatham, or the Director General. Also the Angelsea Arms, but rarely as it was inhabited mainly by knuckle dragging EDL types with mono brows, and badly inked Tattoos of lions and swallows.

The favorite amongst us was The Pullman..Long since pulled down to make way for the DLR extension.
The Elephant and Castle in the Market Square. Could get a pint early doors with the market traders setting up around 7AM. Drills
The Star... Empty and boarded up, last time I saw it.
The Kings Arms across the road from the Barracks, infamously bombed by the IRA in the 70's.Many a hoofing night in there. ;-)

Pink Flamingos was the night club there in the 80's long since changed it's name over the years. Last I heard it was a drug ridden hole. Goes with the times I'm afraid.

Towards the end of my time in Woolwich I left it behind and mainly drank in Eltham, Greenwich and Blackheath.
Fond memories but I'd rather scratch my scrotum with a cheese grater than go back there.

D




Pyrene said:
Got balls working there mate..! Cant remember the bar name, but its the one just by spoons, all the door staff there wear overt bullet vests, crazy! Its a bad area, i only go drinking there with other DS after work, at least then you know someone good is watching your back
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Dance_with_the_devil said:
Christ, Woolwich my old stomping ground, the area must has changed since I was there in the 80's / 90's.
Use to have hoofing nights out in town, but sadly the Lee Rigby incident has cast a dark shadow over that part of SE London.

Glad I'm away from it, but have fond memories and still have friends in the area.
Stay Safe Danny mate.

D
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I dont work the retail down there no more but can say it was the worst place I have worked. Guy guy came in one day with a machet and said iam taking these coats my reply "do u want a bag lol "


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danny56o said:
I dont work the retail down there no more but can say it was the worst place I have worked. Guy guy came in one day with a machet and said iam taking these coats my reply "do u want a bag lol "


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"Here let me get the door for you... would you like a taxi?"

CD
 
Let me just explain to give you a better idea of my situation, because i personally don't think that all retail guards need a vest either.

I previously worked as a store detective at various stores and regularly came into contact with drug addicts, etc and had a few violent confrontations, luckily never had a knife pulled out on me. I was young at the time and new to the industry so wanted to prove myself and always tried my best to never let anyone get away (learned from it now though.)

For just over 2 years now, i have worked retail uniformed night shifts at various stores and it's been pretty much the same, drug addicts, drunks, groups of teenagers, had a few scuffs and other incidents taking place that didn't directly involve me (staff member getting attacked, gangs of teenagers kicking off, etc) but it's not like my store detective job, if i feel like i have no back up (no managers around to assist at the time), i can just let people walk away and nobody has an issue with that. I always put myself first and other skills that i've picked up also help me avoid getting physical, i don't think i've even had to physically detain anyone in the past year.

I am now moving store to a "high risk" store which is one of the worst stores for theft and just trouble in general. I will be alone, it will be nights shifts and i have worked there in the past so i know how bad it can get. It's in a city centre and surrounded by bars and clubs so the drunks all come over after kicking out time and this is when you get the most issues. It's basically like working the door but at a retail store, so this is why i am considering getting a vest.
 
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MikeDerby said:
Let me just explain to give you a better idea of my situation, because i personally don't think that all retail guards need a vest either.

I previously worked as a store detective at various stores and regularly came into contact with drug addicts, etc and had a few violent confrontations, luckily never had a knife pulled out on me. I was young at the time and new to the industry so wanted to prove myself and always tried my best to never let anyone get away (learned from it now though.)

For just over 2 years now, i have worked retail uniformed night shifts at various stores and it's been pretty much the same, drug addicts, drunks, groups of teenagers, had a few scuffs and other incidents taking place that didn't directly involve me (staff member getting attacked, gangs of teenagers kicking off, etc) but it's not like my store detective job, if i feel like i have no back up (no managers around to assist at the time), i can just let people walk away and nobody has an issue with that. I always put myself first and other skills that i've picked up also help me avoid getting physical, i don't think i've even had to physically detain anyone in the past year.

I am now moving store to a "high risk" store which is one of the worst stores for theft and just trouble in general. I will be alone, it will be nights shifts and i have worked there in the past so i know how bad it can get. It's in a city centre and surrounded by bars and clubs so the drunks all come over after kicking out time and this is when you get the most issues. It's basically like working the door but at a retail store, so this is why i am considering getting a vest.
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You know its bad, you know its alone, is it worth the money??????


Get a vest - get PPSS stab vest (leave the kevlar and bullet vests at home, focus on blunt trauma, needles and blades.
Get a can of spray - no not PAVA, get Redweb - the drunks and idiots don't know no-better though
 
Pyrene said:
You know its bad, you know its alone, is it worth the money??????


Get a vest - get PPSS stab vest (leave the kevlar and bullet vests at home, focus on blunt trauma, needles and blades.
Get a can of spray - no not PAVA, get Redweb - the drunks and idiots don't know no-better though
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I agree with pyrene, the PPSS gear looks quite good, and they do sleeves and bite resistant gear too.

PPSS | COVERT Stab Resistant Vests
 
TMAC said:
I agree with pyrene, the PPSS gear looks quite good, and they do sleeves and bite resistant gear too.

PPSS | COVERT Stab Resistant Vests
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Thanks, how visible are they when worn under a shirt??

I will be wearing a jacket throughout the winter so that shouldn't really be a problem, I've seen other guards with vests that are very visible, even under a thin layer jacket, mainly from the back, are these PPSS ones like that??


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