Thiruvananthapuram: The police department may replace P-caps with beret caps for officials ranging from civil police officers to CIs. Only officials above the rank of DySPs are allowed to wear beret caps now.
A beret cap is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre. P-cap is the most common which is named so as it is made in the shape of ‘P’ at its back.
The Kerala Police Association and Kerala Police Officers Association have submitted the proposal to state police chief Loknath Behera. If the demand is accepted, all policemen ranging from civil police officers (CPO) to circle inspectors (CI) will wear beret caps soon. The government should ratify the proposal before it is introduced.
It is said that the P-cap creates inconvenience to cops while dealing with agitations and riots while beret can be folded and put inside the pocket. “There are chances of losing the P-cap while dealing with agitators,” said an officer.
The proposal is to introduce black caps from the level of CPOs to head constable. Additional sub-inspectors to CIs will get Navy blue. The senior officers at present wear berets of royal blue colour, sources said.
However, the present rule that P-caps should be worn during ceremonial parades will continue, sources said.
The DGP had earlier ordered that the colour of their uniforms should be a single shade of khaki. At present it is noticed that two to three shades were being used, sources said.
