The 2014 FIFA World Cup will witness unique police attire at the Rio de Janeiro, the police will be kitted in ‘Robocop’ style armoured suit to help protect police officers in the event of the eruption of violent during the tournament.
The special unit set up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio have been handed 200 sets of the suite which is temperature resistant up to about 427 Celsius and a net weight of 10 kg.
The delivery to the members of the special unit also included helmet, vest, pepper spray, plastic shin, gun, a belt for a.40 calibre pistol, handcuff, baton and a gun loader.
Jose Mariano Beltrame, state secretary for security made this known by saying, “the need to give the military police specialised, efficient and intelligent instruments for patrolling, aimed at the preservation of public order in public places where there is the presence of a crowd of people gathered together.”
The commander of the unit, Lieutenant colonel Wagner Villares told news website Ultimo Segundo “The plastic uniform is resistant to knocks and blows. Underneath the plastic that covers the back and the chest, there is another protective layer that absorbs and spreads the force of a blow.”
Rio de Janeiro will host seven games during the competition, including the final on July 13. The ugly protest which resulted in confrontation between police and protesters last year on the spending of government on the tournament might have informed the need for the equipment.