Deploy is a policing defence helmet which has been designed to protect the cranial area for public order officers who are often exposed to volatile situations from the likes of violent behaviours and criminal activity.
Police officers regularly encounter dangerous situations on a regular basis, however new statistics have revealed that attacks on officers on duty are on the rise, with 1 police officer attacked in the UK every 17 minutes. Following extensive research working with a focus group of public order officers from two regional policing districts, it became apparent that cranial injuries amongst officers was the most common type of injury due to unlawful hostility. The design opportunity arose within the identification that these officers are provided with little to no head protection whilst they’re on duty.
Deploy is a protective helmet which prevents officers from sustaining severe cranial injuries during violent encounters with criminal activities. The helmet is composed of an adaptive elastic structure which provides a ‘one size fits all’ approach, meaning that the head equipment can be shared equally amongst all genders and cranial sizes amongst the force. The materiality composition of the helmet can be dissected into two sections: The impact resistant outer shell, which composes of lightweight ABS and shock absorbing neoprene foam, and the detachable inner fabric padding, which utilises an internal layer of corrugated expanded polypropylene foam, for stab-proof properties, and a polyester mesh for increased cranium ventilation. When not in use, the product sits discreetly compact on the officer’s belt, but quickly transforms into a dynamic, bold aesthetic to assert dominance in dangerous settings. Unlike policing riot helmets, which are expensive and not accessible to use by all officers, Deploy offers an economically viable and practical protective solution to officers of all ranks across the force.