RBPF: Restriction on wearing of camouflage

The Royal Barbados Police Force is reminding the public, that it is AN OFFENCE in Barbados to wear disruptive patterns better known as camouflage. These patterns need not be green, but can also include colours such as blue, black and grey or any style used by any military or paramilitary organization in the world.

Camouflage cannot be worn in any form of clothing and this extends to shoes, belts, trousers, shirts and even face masks.

In Barbados, camouflage/disruptive pattern material and articles remain reserved for members of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF).

Under the Defence Act CAP. 159 Section 188, Subsection 1 Clause (b)

(1) A person is guilty of an offence who:

(a) Wears in a public place, without authority, the uniform of the Barbados Defence Force, not being a member of the force, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform.

(b) wears without authority:

(i) any uniform or part thereof, or any article of clothing made from any of the disruptive pattern materials used for making the military uniform commonly called the “camouflage uniform” or from the any of other material so nearly resembling any of these materials as is likely to deceive.

The Penalty:

Under Section 188, Subsection 5, any person found guilty of any of these offences is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $2000 or to one year imprisonment or both. (RBPF)