Victoria Police displays new dark uniforms in push for tougher look

AN imposing new police uniform has been unveiled which the Chief Commissioner expects it to be well received by Victorians.

New police uniform

AN imposing - and slimming - new police uniform has been unveiled.

Victoria's top cop, Ken Lay, flanked by six of his force, modelled the slick "salute blue" New York-style uniforms.

The Chief Commissioner said the current uniform, which was introduced in 1979, had become outdated and it was time for change.

And he disagreed with criticism that the darker garb made police look intimidating, saying he expected it to be well received by Victorians.

"I don't think the colour of a shirt makes a police member any more aggressive than they might have been," he said.

"What it does do (is that) it differentiates us now from a whole host of other emergency services that have actually crept into the police uniform space.

"This is very clearly a Victoria Police uniform."

The practicality of the uniform has been a driving force behind its design.

"We got to the stage where there were 83 different ways to wear the old uniform - we were finding our members were looking quite untidy at times," Mr Lay said.

"I was keen to build on the image of a clean-cut, professional-looking force."

Mr Lay has already brought in strict grooming standards, banning beards, ponytails, jewellery and non-neutral make-up.

Four suppliers have been awarded contracts to make the uniforms, which will be rolled out over a year from May.

The uniforms will cost about $16 million over four years, but Police Minister Peter Ryan said the rollout would be cost-neutral.

Mr Lay's old uniform will be displayed at the Victoria Police Museum.