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Labour deputy Harman defends wearing of stab proof vest

01/04/2008

Harriet Harman, the deputy leader of the Labour party, has hit back at critics after she wore a stab proof vest while touring her south London constituency.

The ill-advised photo shot lead to media jibes that the deputy Labour leader does not feel safe walking the streets of London.

Ms Harman was photographed wearing the vest while accompanied by neighbourhood police officers.

She was marking the national rollout of the government's neighbourhood policing teams, designed to make the streets safer.

The Conservatives said the stab vest was proof Ms Harman agrees London has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

But Ms Harman, who is also leader of the House of Commons, said she and her assistant had been handed a vest after talking about the new lightweight versions in the police canteen.

Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, she claimed it was like wearing a white hairnet when visiting a meat factory.

Today's John Humphrys responded: "You wear a hard hat on a building site because... there is the danger that something might drop on your head. You don't need to wear a bullet-proof vest on the streets of London, do you?"

Ms Harman said: "No of course you don't.

"It was just a courtesy, there was no security issue whatsoever, it was almost like wearing the kit when you go out with the team," she said.

She claimed most people in south London would have the "good sense" to see she had been supporting the local neighbourhood police team and would think nothing of it.

But shadow home secretary David Davis said the photo-op reflected on crime in London.

Mr Davis said: "Under Labour, London has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world and the minister, like the home secretary before her, clearly knows it.

"You would not need body armour in New York, Paris or Tokyo."

Earlier this year, Jacqui Smith provoked both criticism and agreement after saying she would not feel safe walking the streets of London after dark.