'It’s giving street style': Gardaí to sport new uniforms from Friday

Eva Osborne

Gardaí will be sporting changes to their uniform from Friday, including a baseball cap replacing the traditional garda cap.

Members of An Garda Síochána said the traditional cap had become cumbersome and was prone to getting knocked off.

Thermal gilets have also been issued after gardaí complained their uniform was not warm enough.

"From tomorrow, you’ll spot one or two changes to our #OOTD as we head out on the beat to help keep people safe," An Garda Síochána said on Facebook.

"Some specialist units like the Garda Public Order Unit already wear baseball caps, and now we’ve worked together to introduce a new cap that we will wear when we are all out on operational duties.

"Modern policing is more complex than ever before and while responding to fast-paced, evolving and dynamic situations, the cap could be cumbersome and was prone to getting knocked off.

"We’ve introduced this new gilet too which will be worn either as a layer if on outdoor operational duty, or as outer wear when indoors like back at the station. It’s giving street style."

Gardáí said the new and "more suitable" baseball cap will be a lot easier for them on the beat.

"When we attend court proceedings, high-level meetings or as otherwise directed, you’ll continue to see us wearing our more formal uniform with the dress cap."