The duty belt has always had significant importance within Police forces. As there is a variety of equipment police officers need to carry, duty belts are used as a way to carry the equipment keeping hands free. They also help keep the police equipment in hand to make it easy to access when required.
In the past, duty belts contained only a few things including the holster and firearm and baton of the police, as well as a couple of other pieces of various equipment. The modern duty belts are, however, required to carry the equivalent of 8-10 pounds of gear, and can sometimes carry as much as 15 pounds. You can also buy a nylon police duty belt from Blue Alpha.
The equipment carried includes keys and handcuffs, flashlights, batons and the duty weapons. It is vitally important that the duty belts be made of sturdy, stiff-edged material that is able to hold the weight of the equipment.
As with all police gear, the duty belt has seen a number of changes throughout the years. Because all police officers do not have the same size, particularly in the present time when a growing number of females are joining the force and deploying the force, duty belts have to be constructed to accommodate sizes and shapes.
These modifications have enabled officers to carry their equipment with greater ease and complete their work more efficiently. The customization of duty belts has allowed manufacturers to standardize their manufacturing methods. While the duty belt could remain updated to keep up with the many changes likely to occur, its purpose will remain the same: it will assist police officers in doing their job effectively.