PCSO Sophie Reymond would feel "more protected" with a stab vest

The Kent Police Federation said PCSOs should not need the protection as their role was "non-confrontational".

A federation spokesman suggested that giving them stab vests would lead to a change in their role and "they will replace police officers".

Kent Police said it was protecting the welfare of its PCSOs.

Sophie Reymond, a community support officer in Maidstone, said: "When you have incidents, for example you have children with catapults or BB guns, at least then if we have a stab vest we know that we are more protected."

But the Kent Police Federation's Ian Pointon argued: "PCSOs were employed as an extra resource, they were supposed to be non-confrontational.

An amnesty has seen more than 2,000 knives handed in across Kent

"Once you start to give them equipment, it is very difficult to stop giving them further pieces of equipment.

"Once you start to do that you're in a position where they will replace police officers.

"That's the last thing that we want and I think that the people of Kent want."

Kent Police's Assistant Chief Constable Dave Ainsworth said: "Our advice to PCSOs is not to become involved in confrontations.

"But we have an obligation to look after their welfare."

Meanwhile, officers were carrying out enforcement work during the final week of the national knife amnesty on Thursday.