“It is a sports bra without metal or plastic so they will not be hurt as easily if there is a tussle,” police spokesman Jörg Kunzendorf told AFP. “It is not a bullet-proof bra but it can be worn under a bullet-proof vest.”
Kunzendorf said it was up to individual police officers to decide whether they wanted to wear the new cotton, polyester and elastic bras when they are on duty. He said during a fight, metal or plastic bits of a normal bra can break off, causing injury to female police officers.
“The impact of a bullet on an underwire or a metal hook can seriously hurt a policewoman or even kill her,” added Martin Schilff, an equipment specialist with the police officers’ union GdP.
He said the new white sports bras emblazoned with Polizei, German for Police, in capital letters around the elastic band were currently only available to federal police officers.
“It would be good if regional police could also benefit,” Schilff said.