POLICE officers have been ordered to wear bulletproof vests whenever they are on duty.
Lewisham is one of 12 London boroughs to have the wearing of protective vests made compulsory after a review of gun crime.
The Metropolitan Police held the review of health and safety issues following an incident in Newham in January where officers were shot at.
A police spokesman said: "Based on a careful assessment of the day-to-day threat, the vests offer protection against firearm and knife attack while offering a high level of comfort.
"All operational police officers were issued with vests, in May 1995. However, until now they were for use only during pre-planned operations or where a greater risk could be foreseen."
The boroughs where the wearing of protective vests is now compulsory are: Brent, Croydon, Ealing, Hackney, Harringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Southwark.
Previously, Lambeth, Bexley, Greenwich, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest and Haringey voluntarily made all police officers wear protective vests.
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