THE new bullet and knife-proof jackets which will protect bobbies on the beat were modelled by two police officers who were recently threatened with samurai swords.

Around 70 officers in Swindon have already been issued with the vests and others are currently being made in the correct sizes for the rest of the force.

Already there are 240 officers with the vests and eventually all officers on the beat in Swindon will be issued with the body armour.

It has taken three years for the vests to be designed and fully tested and the result of the last three years of research were revealed by Inspector Pete Bowerbank, of Devizes Police Station.

WPC Julie May and PC Steve Cox modelled the new vest at Devizes, where the two were involved in an incident at the weekend when a man threatened them with a lethal sword.

WPC May said: "It's quite heavy but once it's on you hardly notice it. We are very pleased to get them. They will give us more confidence when we're out on patrol, especially when we're going to a domestic incident when you don't know what to expect.

"We could have done with these last Friday night when we were threatened with Samurai swords."

The body armour is currently being made in different sizes, but it is hoped that within the next few months, all beat officers in Wiltshire will be wearing the vests.

The vest is made of Kevlar, which means it can stop a bullet and will protect officers from a blow with a knife.

The main benefit of using Kevlar, rather than metal which the vests are sometimes made of, is that it is light enough to allow an officer to move and walk around comfortably.

Unveiling the latest piece of equipment in the fight against crime, Insp Bowerbank said it was a sad 'sign of the times' that the ordinary bobby on the beat had to wear this kind of equipment but they were essential in looking after the health and safety of officers.

He said: "The majority of forces in the county are looking at issuing body armour to their officers but, until recently, they have been heavy, inflexible and unwearable for any length of time.

"But there have been great developments in the manufacture of this equipment in recent years and the manufacturers have now come up with something our officers will be happy wearing."

Insp Bowerbank said incidents involving officers being stabbed or shot were thankfully rare but it was the duty of the constabulary to give its police officers the very best protection.

Every officer who undertakes duty in public will be issued with one of the vests, which has loops for handcuffs, CS sprays and radios and can withstand both gun and knife attack.

Over the next few months a total of 1,319 will be issued to officers across the county.

Insp Bowerbank said: "It is a considerable outlay but not when matched against the life of one of my officers."