Given the shocking number of Anti-Trump protests devolving into riots right across the United States in recent months, US Police are currently retraining their teams and adopting a more European conciliatory approach to Crowd Control & Public Order. With a former British Army and Met Police Officer leading the charge, UK Companies are now exporting British expertise in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) systems to Police teams on the other side of the Atlantic. Geoff Perrin, a British Public Order & Close Quarter Combat Instructor, based in the US is working training US Police teams and advising on proven British methods of riot control. To support this, US Police teams are importing top-of-the-range British PPE systems from Derbyshire-based Armadillo and Ludlow-based DMS Protective Equipment for Front Line Officers. Geoff Perrin explains: “In the UK, officers have a different approach to dealing with people because we don’t rely on firearms, the approach is to treat everybody as an individual. We generally rely on our ability to communicate but when we do have to use force, we use necessary and reasonable force to proportionately deal with individuals as opposed to targeting large groups. This is different to the mass approach which the US has traditionally followed relying on chemical ammunitions and mass arrests.” Geoff Perrin adds: “We’ve identified and are recommending the best British PPE for these US Police forces. This includes Armadillo’s merino base layers, which are flame resistant to 600 degrees whilst also maintaining core body temperatures whether it’s hot or cold outside. It just gives me that definite reassurance that I'm not going to burn and I suppose my wife’s happy for that! Also, DMS’ Scorpion range of PPE has been proven effective time and again for me personally.” Derbyshire-based, Armadillo, relied upon by elite forces on the front line from more than 25 countries worldwide, Armadillo’s next-to-skin merino garments are made from super-tough cloth that offers a critical edge in combat and other extreme conditions. Unlike oil-based and synthetic garments, Armadillo’s performance merino does not combust when hit by bullets or shrapnel, it does not melt onto the skin when exposed to extreme heat or flames and offers superior levels of fire protection, performance and comfort. For US Police teams, Armadillo is supplying 100% merino balaclavas, long sleeve tops, Long Johns and socks. In fact, US Law enforcement officials policing President Trump’s Inauguration in freezing January temperatures earlier this year were dressed in Armadillo Merino base layers. What’s more, Armadillo also supplies its performance merino ‘Cobra T Shirt’ to NASA astronauts for training both on earth and on board the International Space Station (ISS). Ludlow-based DMS Protective Equipment is supplying their UK-manufactured Scorpion brand public order equipment. This includes, a full set of lightweight limb guards consisting of shoulder, upper and lower arm, groin, upper and lower leg and foot protection as well as gloves, a nylon public order baton with belt-mounted holder and a heavy-duty kitbag. These products have been tested and certified to the latest Home Office standards and have been supplied to Police Forces and Prison Services throughout the UK for a number of years prior to being adopted in the US. Additionally, DMS are supplying Scorpion personal protective shields. These ultralightweight yet immensely strong clear polycarbonate shields protect the user against all the threats associated with street disorder and perfectly complement the tactics now being developed by authorities in the US.