Police officers are calling on Chief Constable Ken Jones: "Don't force us to wear body armour".

All Sussex officers are to be issued with stab-proof vests and some have urged they should be compulsory.

PC Malcolm Wauchope, based in Brighton, is one.

He said: "As a front-line officer and someone regularly confronted by some of the city's more volatile residents and visitors, I welcome the issuing of armour.

"If an officer was attacked and injured after choosing not to wear the protection provided, they would be the first to join the ever-growing compensation culture and sue the force.

"I welcome the fact my personal safety is being looked out for."

But Sergeant Matt Duffell, also based at Brighton, said in ten years on the front line, he had never been shot at, stabbed or threatened with a knife.

He said: "It doesn't happen that often and, in my opinion, not often enough that I need to wear body armour whenever I am on duty."

Writing in the force magazine Patrol, he said armour was uncomfortable and he relied on speed to avoid attack. Armour would slow him down.

PC Martin Benson, based in Burgess Hill, said he previously worked as an armed officer and had to wear a ballistic vest, identical to the stab-proof vests being issued.

He said: "They were extremely uncomfortable and I was constantly overheating and always seemed to have backache.

"What with having to wear a belt with baton, Captor spray, handcuffs and radio, it was just another cumbersome item of equipment."

PC Benson agreed with current policy: "They should be issued to every officer but ultimately it should be down to individual choice about whether they should be worn.

"I am perfectly happy to sign an agreement not to sue the force if I get stabbed. But I might sue the scumbag who actually stabs me!"

Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo said: "The decision has been taken to help officers feel safer. They will work with other protection, such as Captor spray, to keep down the level of attacks."

Chief Constable Ken Jones said the decision was made after months of talks but it would take up to 18 months to issue all front-line officers with armour because other forces were also placing orders.