Kent Police have issued bullet and stab proof vests to some officers

Jan Berry, the Police Federation chairman and herself a Kent officer, is expected to urge the 11 forces named to speed up their body armour programmes at a conference in London on Thursday.

Kent Police announced a �1m project to give all their frontline staff bullet and stab proof vests early in 2002.

But 15 months on, only 560 of the 1,600 vests ordered have been delivered - and their deployment has been prioritised to officers in north Kent and Medway.

Demand outstripping supply

A further 900 vests still have to be ordered to supply all 2,500 frontline officers with armour.

The force said the delay in the roll-out was down to demand for the armour outstripping supply by the manufacturers.

Peter Philpot, assistant chief constable for Kent Police, said: "I cannot over-criticise the manufacturers and this isn't trying to blame someone else because I think they have more forces than just Kent to deal with.

"It's a question of waiting and I think most of our front-line officers are aware that the problem is with them and not with the force."

'Too dangerous'

The order should be completed by the end of the year, he said.

A Kent Police spokesman said the armour had been prioritised to the county's busiest areas, with 92% of officers in Gravesend and Dartford and 97% of those working in Medway now equipped.

Sussex Police have yet to choose a supplier for their body armour.

Senior officers for the force said the county was so safe the vests had not been a priority until now.

Ms Berry has stressed the importance of the body armour programme.

She has said "policing is too dangerous a profession to not supply people with armour" and that "it seems some forces are waiting for the number of assaults to rise before taking steps to properly equip and protect their officers".