SWINDON police will soon be walking the beat dressed in bullet and knife-proof jackets.

The Wiltshire force will become the first police force in the South West to issue all its officers with protective body armour as standard.

The armour will help the county's 1,319 officers protect themselves against knife and gun attacks while out on patrol.

The force, which has more than 1,300 officers, says the county remains one of the safest in the country. But senior officers are keen to ensure their patrolling officers are given the maximum protection if faced with violence.

Wiltshire's assistant chief constable Stephen Long said bobbies on the beat carried out one of the most important and fundamental roles expected of the police.

"We want to ensure that their safety and their effectiveness in resolving violent situations is supported through the issue of this body armour," he said.

"I am satisfied that the vest we have selected is at the present time the best protection that we can provide for our officers."

The move is part of a national initiative to eventually equip all police officers with protective ballistic and stab-proof vests.