The Ipswich Central Street Rangers have today launched a new-look uniform featuring cameras and stab vests.

For the new look, the street rangers will be wearing stab vests outside of their clothing instead of underneath and be equipped with cameras and tracking devices.

It is hoped the new features will help increase their safety, as well as assisting with incidents they attend to.

Paul Clement, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said: “The Street Rangers, provided by local businesses through the BID (Business Improvement District), hold a pivotal role in the town centre and their presence is something businesses see as an important element of being part of a Business Improvement District.

“Because of this, the safety of the team is of paramount important to us.

“As their role has developed over the years, they are relied upon more and more to attend incidents such as shop lifting.

“The cameras will be used to record the incidents they attend and this footage may well be called upon should a case go to court.

“It’s not just about recording incidents though. Research has shown that the use of body warn cameras can often have a calming effect on an incident, helping to defuse a situation which could have escalated.

“It is for this reason that we will be introducing these as a standard part of their uniform.”

However, the cameras will not be recording all of the time, but only on incidents they attend where it is considered necessary.

Members of the public who approach them will be told if they are being filmed.