Details of the new police uniform in the North have been unveiled in Belfast. The uniform will be worn by all police service members from Friday week.
The Policing Board chairman said it was a symbol of a new beginning in policing. However, the Police Federation, which represents rank and file members, has expressed reservations about the introduction of name badges.
Five different types of uniforms were unveiled. Members will wear name badges rather than numbers, one of the recommendations of the Patten report. The public will get their first chance to assess the new look on Friday week, when the first new recruits will also graduate.
Some PSNI members had expressed concern about the colour used for the word police in the jumpers, claiming the overall effect was green, white and gold.
However, the Assistant Chief Constable said there were no political overtones and they had agreed to change the gold lettering to silver to match the badge. Alan McQuillan also said he hoped that Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne would be present at next week's graduation for recruits.
Some Unionists have objected to him playing any role in the ceremony itself. A Garda spokesman confirmed Commissioner Byrne had received an official invitation and would be attending the passing out parade.
