What is the difference between wearing uniform and wearing body armour?

The police tactical team was wearing its usual uniform: “Standard police blues, body armor, balaclava, and the helmet . . .” (A.B. p. 307, l. 9-11). The wearing of uniforms is unobjectionable. Indeed, one of the posited risks of a “hard” entry is that the occupants of the residence might mistake the police for criminals: Eccles v. Bourque at p. 746. The wearing of uniforms significantly reduces that risk. Suggesting that body armour should not be worn undervalues the importance of officer safety. Body armour itself adds little to the overall appearance of the uniform.